The Dry port in Ibadan that is directly connected to Apapa and Lekki seaport via railways is a complete game changer for the Southwest.
It means you can go to Ibadan to get your goods instead of Lagos. This will ensure the rapid industrialization of the South west States most especially, Oyo state and Osun state.
What happens in Oyo state will surely spill over into Kwara state. Thousands of jobs will be created via that route and millions of dollars will be coming from the diaspora to Oyo/Osun/Kwara axis for building real estates and small scale industries because movement of goods and services is now efficient and better.
Left to me, I see no reason why Ogun state and Ondo state should not have their own seaports. Those two states have no business in any dry port most especially Ogun state. Ogun state is like the manufacturing engine room of West Africa and the governor of the state needs to ensure it follows the template of Lagos state for its growths and development.
In the future, Ekiti state needs a dry port that will/should be connected to the Ondo state seaport via railways. Ekiti dry port should serve Kogi, Benue or part of the FCT.
I am pleading to stakeholders in Lagos to act as big brothers to Ogun state and Ondo state for the construction of their own seaports via the PPP model that delivered the Lekki seaport by guiding, assisting or creating a framework whereby Lagos state can create a company to invest in that venture.
What is important is the economic development and prosperity of our people who have been trampled upon by the unitary system. If the port will be concessioned to the parties that provided the funding for 100 years so be it.
USA controlled the Panama canal for hundreds of years before handing it over to Panama. I am grateful to the administration that made the dry port in Ibadan a success. May President Tinubu succeed.
By Aare Kurunmi Kakanfo
