AOLG Boss Meets Captains of Industry, Seeks Stronger Collaboration

AOLG Boss Meets Captains of Industry, Seeks Stronger Collaboration

The Executive Chairman of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Ogun State, has called for stronger collaboration between government and captains of industry to drive development in the council area.

Speaking during a meeting held at Royal-Queen Products and Industrial Limited with stakeholders in the agricultural processing sector, particularly maize producers, the chairman expressed appreciation for the opportunity to engage with business leaders. He stressed that the essence of governance at the grassroots is to directly reach the people and provide basic amenities, noting that local governments are constitutionally empowered to generate revenue alongside federal allocations.

He highlighted key areas for partnership, including infrastructure development, revenue generation, and road safety. According to him, the government depends on revenue from citizens and industries, and without funds, social amenities and other basic needs cannot be adequately provided.

The chairman assured stakeholders that their concerns would be reflected in the 2026 state budget, especially regarding the improvement of road infrastructure within industrial estates. He also emphasized the need to sensitize truck drivers on road safety and disclosed that the local government legislative council has already sponsored a bill to regulate trading activities along roads, with a public hearing recently held on September 9.

In his remarks, Dr. Ipinlaye Isaac , The Director, Royal-Queen Products and Industrial Limited  who  hosted the meeting urged the local government to block loopholes in its internally generated revenue (IGR) system. He advised that with proper accountability, the council would be better positioned to plan and deliver on its obligations.

Dr. Ipinlaye Isaac, alongside other industrialists, identified poor road infrastructure as the greatest challenge facing businesses in the area. He noted that once road conditions improve, companies will willingly pay their dues, making IGR easier to collect.

Dr. Tade Adegbite, Executive Director of Eagle Package Printing Limited, cited the onging effort of some industrialist who had lunched a N100m drainage systems to take the storm water to a Government approved Canal to eradicate erosion disturbing the nearby communities around the industrial estate as an example of private initiative complementing Government efforts. This was cited to highlight the role of communities in the development of the local government area.

On agriculture, Dr. Ipinlaye advised the chairman to partner with private investors, drawing a lesson from Thailand’s rice revolution, where the government mandated citizens to cultivate rice on small plots, which later turned the country into one of the world’s largest rice producers.

The meeting ended on a note of optimism, with both parties reaffirming their commitment to collaborate for the socio-economic growth of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government.