Ogun State has and will always create a conducive atmosphere for investors to thrive  by providing the necessary infrastructural facilities through the Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects in the State.

The Head of Service,  Mr. Kehinde Onasanya made this known while delivering a keynote address at the launch of a book titled "Practical Guide to Public Private Partnership Arrangement in Nigeria" authored by Pastor Adebisi Sogunle held at the Waterfalls Events Centre, Ikeja, Lagos.

According to him, since the State passed the PPP law in 2019, the initiative has facilitated projects with road networks rehabilitated and expanded as well as reconstruction of the Ijebu-Ode-Epe Expressway.

He said PPP is a collaborative agreement between public sector entities and private sector companies aimed at delivering public services or infrastructure projects and added that the model leverages the strengths of both sectors to achieve outcomes that neither could effectively accomplish alone.

"Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON, Ogun State has harnessed the potential of PPPs to drive significant developments. It is trite to state that the vision of His Excellency summarises the kernel of his Agenda: “To give Ogun State focused and qualitative governance and to create the enabling environment for a public private sector partnership, which is fundamental to the creation of an enduring economic development and individual prosperity of the people of Ogun”.  Let me, therefore highlight some of the notable projects of the State Government and their impacts through PPP:

i. The Ogun State Agro Cargo Airport: Developed in partnership with the private sector, the Agro Cargo Airport is designed to facilitate the export of agricultural products, thereby boosting the agro-industrial sector.

ii. Ogun State Housing Development Projects: Several housing projects, including the Prince Court Estate, have been developed through PPP arrangements to address the housing deficit.

iii. Ogun State Energy Generation Projects: Lisabi Mini Power was developed in partnership with the private sector to generate 4.5MW Power for transmission and distribution within the State to Government core areas.

"Other projects of the State Government in the pipeline through PPPs include the Olokola Deep Sea Port, Sagamu Trailer Park, Sagamu Stadium, Hillcrest Estate, PMB Estate, Lomiro Oil Palm, OGSG Pharmaceuticals, OGSG Forestry project, Gateway Hotel Ota, Inland Dry Port at Kajola/Papalanto, amongst others", the HoS said.

While congratulating the author of the book for his contributions to the discourse on PPPs, Mr. Onasanya said the valuable resource will no doubt guide policy makers, practitioners and investors in navigating the complexities of PPP arrangements in Nigeria and urged Public Servants as well as private sector partners to key into the messages of the book and apply its lessons in their endeavours.

On his part, the former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said the book is timely because government alone cannot maintain all its assets, which requires the PPP arrangements, saying the arrangement paved way for some major road infrastructure with particular reference to Ogun State and commended the Ogun State Government for keying into the initiative, which has created more job opportunities for the people.

Adding his voice in an interview, the National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Dr. Chris Iziguzor said the PPP initiative has assisted Ogun State in achieving much in the area of infrastructural development, and added that the arrangement in turn brought in more investors and provided job opportunities for the citizens.

In his response, the Author, Pst. Adebisi Sogunle, while appreciating all guests for the support he got, said he wrote the book based on the experience he garnered while working on a PPP arranged programme in Cross River State.

He said the book will help in examining the roles of stakeholders because they have the responsibility to maintain the environment when political, economic and administrative concerns arise while partnering.

In the HoS' entourage were Permanent Secretaries including Dr. Olu Ola Aikulola, Mr. Oluwaseyi Sokoya and Mrs. Arinola Adetayo.