AKURE— THE Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Ondo State yesterday kicked against the establishment of a sea-port at the Ogun/Ondo boundary town of Olokola saying it failed to represent the yearnings and aspirations of the people for state development.
In a statement, the party said infrastructural development to be attracted to the site would leave the state (Ondo) shoreline underdeveloped.
It said: “The recent announcement by the Dr Olusegun Agagu led government of Ondo State of the establishment of a sea-port at a no-man’s land Ogun/Ondo states boundary town of Olokola do not represent the yearnings and aspirations of our people for development as whatever infrastructural development that will be attracted to the site of the port will still leave the entire Ondo State shoreline undeveloped".
According to the party, the coastline of Ilaje council area stretching from Ogun State to Delta State is over 100km is without any federal infrastructural presence, adding that the clamour of the people over the years has been for the establishment of seaport, naval base and a refinery in view of the abundant crude oil and bitumen deposit, pointing out that “with the present level of port development in Lagos, it is reasonable to suggest that any further port establishment in the South West should not be just few kilometers from Lagos thereby concentrating all such development within less than 30% of the entire South West coast and can not lead to the desired decongestion of the Lagos ports.
“The siting of the port deep inside Ondo State coastal territory will decongest Lagos ports and also impact positively on Lagos, Ogun and Ondo states’ littoral communities.”
“The overwhelming interest of Ilaje, nay, Ondo state people is the accelerated construction of the Igbokoda- Aiyetoro road commenced by the government of Chief Adebayo Adefarati which road will serve not only to link up the coastal area with other parts of the state but will naturally attract the setting up of seaport, refinery and other infrastructural facilities in the area.
“The federal government will also do well to commence the coastal road from Lagos to Akwa Ibom which will be the catalyst of irreversible development of the Niger Delta and coastal Nigeria.”
Continuing, the statement said that the Ilaje people are watching the current Ondo state government and at the fullness of time shall demand account for the management of the billions of naira now accruing to the state from the 13% derivation fund and "our benefit of the membership of the NNDC as there is yet nothing to show in Ilaje land for this improved revenue to government.”
