Ogun State is fast becoming the most attractive destination for private investment in Nigeria. This is according to the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, who disclosed this while addressing a press conference ahead of this year’s Ogun State Investor’s Forum that the state raked in whooping N690 billion worth of investment in 2014.
He said that over 90 companies have invested in the state within the space of five years that his administration opened the state for business, adding that more than 10 additional companies are waiting for commissioning with each investing not less than $100 million.
“When we start this Investors Forum in 2012, it was like a test case, but precisely on 14th of February, 2014 prior to the second edition we took drastic action and approached World Bank.” “If you remember, in term of doing business in Nigeria, Ogun State was number 35, but when we adjusted in those areas where there were complaints, we moved from 35 to number third.”
“In 2014 alone, new investment of about N514.87 billion came in to the state and before the end of that year, it eventually rose to N691. 77 billion. As at this year, we have close to 2000 people who have applied for land among other thing, but we are very conscious because we want genuine investors.” Amosun hinted that some of these developments have made the state ranked fourth in area of Internally Generated Revenue,
“To encourage these investors, we created One-Stop Shop Investment Centre, OSSIC, to assist potential investors with procedure for investment and documentation processing. We are glad to announce that, the largest American investment in Nigeria is situated in Ogun State.” He explained that all the achievement and success story did not come as a magic, but through creation of enabling environment, “We constructed more than 14 link bridges, rehabilitated Ota Akute road, Mowe Ibafo road, Agbara Industrial Estate and reduced rates of access to commercial and agricultural land. We have also improved in area of security.”
Speaking on the focus of this year Investor Forum, the Chairperson, Organizing Committee and Honourabe Commissioner Budget and Planning, Ms Adenrele Adesina said that the renewed focus is to make environment friendly, movement of goods more easier and creation of transformation through agriculture were the focus of this year gathering.
“As we are having more companies, we need to look at environmental impact, analysis and carry out assessment. Also all these companies need to transport their goods and services, that is why we are focusing on transportation, and our agricultural agenda needs to be moving on.” “Also, we are encouraging investors to source their raw materials locally and give our people opportunity to work with them, because our target is that it will come to a time when there will be no single person in Ogun State without job.
