Dangote also said Ogun State is focused on attracting investors, adding that it is one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria
By Kehinde Okeowo
The President, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has said he decided to re-invest in Ogun State after his unpleasant experience with the previous administration because of the vision and policies of the incumbent governor, Dapo Abiodun.
He made this known during a courtesy visit to the governor in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the capital of the state.
According to him, his company decided to go back and invest in Ogun State because of Gov Abiodun’s vision and deliberate policies that focus on attracting investors and the investor-friendly climate that exists in the state.
Dangote added that the state is one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria after crafting itself as the manufacturing ‘bedrock’ of Nigeria.
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Speaking during the visit he said: “I will like to commend in a special way my good friend and brother, your Excellency,the governor of Ogun State, for your vision, and deliberate policies that focus on attracting enterprises through an immense support for the private sector which is now attracting investors.
“Our factory at Itoro was pulled down twice. When we started the second time, they did not only demolish the factory, but also the fence, so we left. But right now, because of his Excellency, our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we are back. When you get to the factory, you will be surprised at what we have done.
“We earlier on abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), but because of your policies and investor-friendly environment, I want to say we are back and are going to work with the state government and return to Olokola and plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country.”
Giving an update of the company’s ongoing projects in the state, Dangote said two new lines of 6.0 million metric tons per annum cement plant has been constructed at Itori, while the 12 million metric tons per annum cement plant is also domiciled at Ibeshe.
On completion, the Chief Executive assured, the total capacity of the company’s cement plants in the state would be in the neighborhood of 18 million metric tons per annum, making it the highest cement producing state or region in Africa.
” With the contributions of other cement producers in the state, Ogun remains far ahead of other countries across Africa in terms of cement production,” he added.
