In what can be described as a strategic move, the Ogun State Government has announced plans to commence the comprehensive rehabilitation of roads and drainage systems within OPIC’s Agbara Industrial and residential Estates to further strengthen the ease of doing business in that locality.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Housing and Managing Director of Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation, OPIC, Arc. Abiodun Fari-Arole, gave this hint in Abeokuta, during a stakeholders' meeting with Industrialists from OPIC’s Estate, Agbara.

The OPIC Boss said the meeting was to discuss and address the state of some roads in the estate, saying, rehabilitation of such roads would maintain the recognition of Agbara as a beacon of industrial excellence and improve the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the State.

"This is a hub that contributes immensely to employment, innovation and national development, as we all know, our success depends heavily on the strength of our infrastructure development," he said.

He added that poor roads affect logistics, increase cost and diminish the efficiency operation if left unattended to, saying it would challenge the competitiveness of the Industrial estate.

Arch. Fari further stated that road projects were highly capital-intensive, and that the  government could not do it alone, hence, the need for collaboration and funding, with a sharing formula in which government cover 60 percent and 40 percent  would be covered by the Industries, noting that the Corporation would set up joint committee to drive the project, open a procurement process in achieving transparency, accountability and project management unit to maintain day to day execution under the agreed guideline and funding model, among others, saying it would aid the successful road infrastructure process.

Arc. Fari- Arole urged industries to desist from discharging wastes into public drain, adding that it could lead to an unforeseen pandemic.

The Director, Planning Survey and Research, TPL. Dotun Akinwale presented the roads marked for rehabilitation which included, some parts of service roads, area 4 and 8 industrial roads and mix roads, among others, noting that those roads would further open up economic growth for the State.

 Representative of African Fertilizer Nigeria Limited, who is also an Industrialist, Mr. Navneet Chaudhary, pleaded for the provision of trailer park for trailers plying the roads daily, saying, the need for the park would ensure long-lasting roads.