The Ondo State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, has described the renewed commitment by President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to develop the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ) as a landmark investment that will transform Ondo State into a major industrial and business hub in the South-West region of Nigeria.
Speaking with journalists in Akure, Ajanaku said the proposed multi-billion-dollar industrial zone represents a significant step in Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s vision to reposition Ondo State from a predominantly civil service-driven economy to a thriving centre of industrial production, manufacturing and international trade. According to him, the project has the potential to redefine the state’s economic future through large-scale investments, job creation and wealth generation.
The Commissioner noted that Dangote’s plan to establish what is expected to become Nigeria’s largest industrial and free trade zone at Olokola would provide critical infrastructure, including independent power generation, water supply, gas facilities and logistics services, thereby creating an enabling environment for local and foreign investors.
He said, such infrastructure would remove many of the bottlenecks that have traditionally discouraged industrial development in Nigeria.
Ajanaku explained that the project would not only attract manufacturing firms to Ondo State but also stimulate the growth of ancillary businesses, increase internally generated revenue and create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities for residents.
He added that the integration of gas infrastructure and the state’s strategic location along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor would further strengthen Ondo’s position as an emerging industrial destination.
The Commissioner also highlighted Governor Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to ensuring the success of the initiative, noting that the administration has already established a technical committee to engage with the Dangote Group on land, legal, operational and community-related matters. He said the government’s readiness to collaborate with investors and host communities demonstrates its determination to create a sustainable environment for industrial growth.
Describing the development as a potential economic turning point, Ajanaku said the successful implementation of the Olokola Free Trade Zone would mark the beginning of an industrial revolution in Ondo State, positioning it among Nigeria’s leading investment destinations and accelerating its emergence as a key driver of economic growth in the South-West and the country at large.
Olokola Free Trade Zone: Ondo’s Transition from Civil Service Economy to Industrial Powerhouse – Ajanaku
