Ogun community lauds govt on free trade zone

Community leaders in Igbesa, Ota Local Government Area of Ogun state, have commended the state government and the management of Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone (OGFTZ) for bringing development to the community.

The community, Tuesday, in a communique signed by Chairman Adele Oba of Igbesa, Chief in Council) Chief J.A. Igeoya, the Elero of Igbesa;  Chief  Ade Durojaye the Otumba Amona of Igbesa, (Path Finder) and Chief B. A. Obanla the Baajipe of Igbesa, and  Chairman of Igbesa Central Community Development Association,  denounced some member of the community for spreading false rumour about the Chinese investors.

In a communique also signed by the Gbabaniyi of Igbesa, Chief S.A Obanla; Hon. Sunmola Arimitau Agoro,; President of  Igbesa Youth Assembly, Chief Jolaogun T. Abiodun; and  Alhaji Kabiru; noted that since the siting of the trade zone in Igbesa, about eight years ago, it has brought a lot of development and created employment opportunities for youths of the community.

According to the leaders, many youths in the community had gained hands-on training and skills from the over 30 factories currently operating in the Zone, while at the some others have been sent to China for training by the Zone’s management.

On the controversy raised recently by some people over land acquired by the state government for the siting of the Zone, the community elders stated that those raising dust over the land were doing so for selfish reasons and lacked a sense of history.

They said that the late Oba of Igbesa had in 2006 taken the Ogun state government to court over the land acquisition but observed that the court struck out the matter because it was statute barred as at the time the court action was instituted.”

In their view, the rulings of Justice  O.A Onafowokan  of the Ogun State  High Court of December 21, 2006, in suit number: HCT/80/00, was clear on the matter,  noting that: “As a community, we have since moved on and working hand in hand with the state government and the management of the Zone for the development of our community and wouldn’t want anyone or group to cause disaffection among us”

The statement further said that, “it was mischievous to draw the Zone into this needless matter because as far as we know the Zone is only occupying the land duly allocated to it by the state government which has been declared as a Free Trade Zone by a Presidential Order.”

They called on the state and federal government to deal with trouble makers within their community as their actions were capable of scaring aware foreign investors, even as they assured Zone’ management of the community’s  cooperation.

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