The Ogun State Government has engaged a consortium of indigenous professionals for the development of a master plan for its Economic Development Clusters (EDCs) .
The Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Dapo Okubadejo, stated this at the maiden meeting with the experts in his office in Abeokuta.
He said the state government decided to design a master plan for the development and creation of the clusters to avoid haphazard development.
He emphasised that the economic clusters would deliver large-scale legacy infrastructure projects through value chain optimisation.
He added that the EDCs located in Ijebu, Remo, Atan-Agbara-Ota, Abeokuta, Magboro and Imeko Afon-Aworo are deliberately positioned to attract local and international partners as well as investors.
“These locations will also significantly boost productive output, achieve regional planning, stimulate economic growth and development that will lead to individual prosperity among others,” the commissioner said.
He explained further that when completed, the clusters would feature Special Agriculture Processing Zone (SAPZ), Aerotropolis, FGN Special Economic Zone, Medium, Small and Micro Enterprises (MSMEs) park, automobile, medical and education cities.
Other components of the clusters according to Okubadejo are tech hub, creative and entertainment village, Iledotun Forest Reserve, distribution and logistics hubs, industrial and residential estates, among others.
He charged the professionals to bring their expertise to bear on the delivery of the project which he described as key to sustaining the position of the state as the fastest growing economy in the country.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Tunji Odunlami, said members of the team were selected based on their proven track records.
Responding on behalf of the team, a former president of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Alhaji Waheed Kadiri, blamed haphazard development across the country on governments not planning projects.
He, however, commended the state government for seeking professional guidance for the establishment of the economic clusters.
While thanking the government for the confidence reposed in them, Kadiri also promised that the team would bring their expertise to bear on the project.
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