The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun says a Dry Port  to be located in Kajola would soon be commissioned as plan is at an advanced stage to ensure its commencement in the state.

Prince Dapo Abiodun who made this known during the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the Development of the Ogun Special Agro industrial Processing Zone(SAPZ), an Ogun State Government and Arise Integrated Industrial Platform venture held at the Ogun State Agro Cargo International Airport, said that the state government is discussiong with  the Arise Integrated Industrial Platform and the African Finance Corporation.

Abiodun who also said that the dry port when completed would ensure that cargo's meant for the state are no longer cleared in Lagos State, saying that " As we know that only 16% to 17% of African trade is intra Africa, only 16% to 17% of African trade is between African Countries, over 70% is between Africa and the rest of the world, this is the beginning of that turnaround.

" Our Deep Sea Port is also loading, let me reassure our people that we are working assiduously on ensuring that the dry port to be located in Kajola would be commissioned very soon.

" Only this morning, Gangan and myself  discussed it in detail with the president of African Finance Corporation to ensure that going forward, cargo's that are destined for Ogun State are no longer cleared in Lagos State, so you can ship your cargo's from wherever straight to Kajola, thereby decongesting Lagos,the traffic in the port, the traffic to Lagos and of cause creating efficiency for our processing company," he said.

The Chief Executive Officer of Arise Integrated Industrial Platform; Gagan Gupta while commending Governor Abiodun for developing the Ogun State Special Agro Processing Zone as well as developing infrastructure in the state, disclosed that Prince Dapo Abiodun was very persuasive and charming at ensuring that they eventually set up in the state.

Gupta who also noted that Arise Integrated Industrial Platform was created to reduce unemployment, promote economic growth and mediate climate change, said that the Arise Integrated Industrial Platform already has eight companies ready to support the project.

The Arise founder also disclosed that the phase one which is expected to be ready by July 2024 would create over 20,000 direct jobs in the industrial zone, while 50,000 indirect jobs would be created in the phase one, adding that the construction would last for 18 months.

The Minister for Trade and Investment; Niyi Adebayo commended Governor Abiodun for the feat the state will acheive through the setting up of a Special Agro Processing Zone, saying that the agro processing zone located within the axis of the International agro cargo airport would be a key regional trading hub.

Adebayo who noted that the Special Agro Processing Zone project in the state would complement the wider national special agro processing zone program that supports the federal government's backward integration strategy, also added that the Agro Cargo Airport when completed would stimulate economic development.

The Chairman of the council of Oba's and the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland; Oba Babatunde Ajayi represented by the Elepe of Epe; Oba Adewale Osiberu who noted that they are happy and proud of the giant strides of the governor, said that would ensure peaceful coexistence between the community and the Arise Integrated Industrial Platform group.

Chairman, Senate Committee on Industries; Senator Tokunbo Abiru who noted that the governor has brought into political governance his rich private sector experience, added that he is glad with the effective level of synergy with the private sector in the economic development process of the state.

Abiru who also noted that economic development process demands a strategic focus on areas of competitive  and comparative advantages, said that the agro processing zone would boast investment across all segment of the agric value chain, agro processing, packaging,marketing and export.