President Goodluck Jonathan in Ijebu-Ode yesterday pledged to prioritise the completion of the multi-million dollar Olokola deep seaport project in Ogun to attract rapid economic growth and job creation.
Jonathan gave the assurance when he visited the Awujale of of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona.
The president’s visit was in continuation of his tour to paramount rulers in the South-West to solicit their support and blessings in the forthcoming elections.
“There are four deep seaport projects that will dominate our focus in the next dispensation and God willing these will go through.
“The Olokola port project with the related investments, the Badagry deep sea port project, the Ibaka deep sea port project in Akwa Ibom State and Age deep seaport project in Bayelsa.
“We need to expand our port facilities because Lagos is congested and we need deep seaports across the country that will be viable, decongest Lagos and increase commercial activities across Nigeria,” he said.
The president told members of the traditional council of Ijebuland that he was seeking another four-year term to complete some laudable projects in the education, road and railways sectors.
“We have tried significantly in almost all the sector but we have not reached where we want to go as a nation and we are totally committed to pushing Nigeria forward,” the President said.
On the creation of Ijebu state, Jonathan said the just concluded national conference had made recommendations for creation of new states and he reaffirmed his intention to implement the conference document.
“It is the responsibility of the executive and national assembly to implement the document that is why we are praying for the PDP to have reasonable control of the two arms of the National Assembly and the executive,” he said.
The President also used the occasion of his visit to commend sons and daughters of Ijebuland for their profound contributions to nation building, and promised not to neglect them in key federal appointments.
“The Ijebus are known for commerce and industry and this is a part of Nigeria where we have men and women to partner for the purpose of moving this country forward,” he said.
In his remarks, Adetona thanked the president for the visit, noting that it had provided an opportunity for his people to interface with the president and listen to his vision and programme for them.
Adetona described the Ijebus as “very sophisticated and enlightened”.
He said their interaction with the president on the August visit would afford them an opportunity to make up their mind on who to support in the March 28 presidential election.
The traditional ruler appealed for violence-free elections across the country, and urged Nigerians to remember that only God Almighty bestows leadership on individuals.
Copyright Ships & Ports Ltd. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit given to www.shipsandports.com.ng as the source.
