By Joseph Ologeh
The Ondo State Government has been granted a license for a Deep Sea Port, raising the state of the state as a future industrial hub.
The State Governor in 2017 has resubmitted the proposal for the establishment of the Deep Sea Port. The efforts yielded fruits following intensive campaign and lobby by the Ondo State Government for the Deep Sea Port.
The approval for the Deep Sea Port was given by Federal Government on Wednesday during the Federal Executive Council, FEC meeting held at the State House in Abuja.
The Federal Executive Council instantly approved the operating licence for the Port at the FEC meeting.
The Deep Sea Port is expected to boost the economy of Nigeria by creating jobs and decongest the Lagos Port
Sources told Irohinoodua that Akeredolu had made the battle to secure the Port his major priority on assumption of office as Governor in 2017.
The source said the appointment of an Ondo State indigene, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, as Minister of State in the Federal Ministry of Transportation in July 2022 further assisted the concerted efforts of the State Government
Akeredolu had submitted the proposal for the establishment of the Port to the federal government, with series of due diligence undertaken by both the State and federal governments.
Details of the approval was presented by the Federal Ministry of Transportation through the Minister of Transportation, Eng Muazu Jaji Sambo.
For many years, the Government of Ondo State had sought the approval of the Federal Governmenr for the approval of the license without success.
In 2004, during the era of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the Ondo State Government approached the Federal Government for the approval of the Deep Sea Port at Olokola without success.
Barely one year ago, the Minister of Transportation, Mu’azu Sambo had said the Federal Government would support Ondo State bid for a Deep Port
He had said “We want to see this port come to life before the end of this administration; having another deep seaport will do a lot of good to the blue economy policy of the Federal Government.”