Ogun govt seeks stakeholders’ cooperation on Ogun Green Project

The Ogun State Government has sought for stakeholders’ cooperation for its project on the busiest highway in Nigeria, the Lagos/Ibadan Expressway, stating its readiness to make the environment “green.”

The state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said this during a sensitisation meeting on the ‘Ogun Go Green Project,’ which is aimed at making the highway beautiful and more importantly, to ease traffic gridlock on the highway.

Held at the OPIC Event Centre, Isheri, Amosun, who was represented at the meeting by the Head of Service, Mr Sola Adeyemi, noted that the meeting became pertinent so that the stakeholders can key into the project.

The governor explained that the initiative would cover 25 metres out of 70 metres setback on the highway.

The State Commissioner for Forestry, Mr Kola Lawal said the government was concerned by the chaotic and deplorable conditions of the 70 metres setback.

Lawal, who is the chairman of the project said the first phase on the project would cover alternative route, tree planting, walkway, amongst others, submitting that the project  would start from Berger end of the road.

He reiterated that about 220 illegal structures, 41 abandoned trucks, over 100 articulated vehicles and many filling stations would be affected by the project, adding that owners of structures with approvals would be compensated.

The commissioner further explained that structures without the approval of the government would be demolished with no compensation while they would equally be punished.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Bolaji Oyeleye, also assured the stakeholders that all markets along the route would be relocated to other designated areas, while his counterpart in the Ministry of Urban and Physical  Planning, Adebola Adeife, pleaded with shop owners whose structures have been marked for demolition to remove it their wares before government moves to the site.