Don’t blame me for loss of Dangote Refinery – Governor Abiodun

Ogun state Governor, Dapo Abiodun has exonerated himself from blame for the loss of Dangote refinery to Lagos.

Governor Abiodun while reacting to a news report credited to a PDP stalwart, Segun Sowunmi, heaping blames on the successive administrations in the state, said he did his best as the then Chairman of the Committee on the Olokola Free Trade Zone projects during the first term of the immediate past governor

In a statement by his chief press secretary, Kunle Somorin on Tuesday, Governor Abiodun said the $19 billion worth of investment was initially negotiated to be established in Ogun state before it was later moved to the Lekki Free Trade Zone in Lagos.

The statement reads, ”Our attention has been drawn to a report credited to a PDP stalwart, Segun Sowunmi, heaping blames on the successive administrations in the state, for losing a $19bn Dangote Refinery to the neighbouring Lagos State.

“Any true born Ogun indigene will sincerely be pained by the huge investment loss, especially when Ogun had been marked as the most suitable natural location for the mega project in Olokola Free Trade Zone, in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of the state.

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“As we are all aware, penultimate administration made appreciable and concerted efforts to ensure that the Olokola deep sea port and other ancillary projects in the OKFTZ, become a reality, by rallying major players in the oil and gas sector, including Dangote Group.” The governor said.

The statement added that ”The present governor, Dapo Abiodun, served as the Chairman of the Committee on the Olokola Free Trade Zone projects during the first term of the immediate past governor.

“Governor Abiodun, as the chairman of the committee and a big player in the oil and gas industry himself, did everything possible to make sure the project saw the light of the day.

“The then governor, perhaps, having a personal axe to grind with the promoter of the refinery project, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, frustrated all the efforts of Governor Abiodun and his committee.

“The immediate Chairman, Board of Directors of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) Mrs. Ronke Sokefun, who was then a commissioner, served as the Secretary of the committee, which engaged Dangote on the mega project.

“Instead of showing enthusiasm towards hosting the project in the state, the former governor brazenly opposed and obstructed efforts of the Abiodun-led committee in ensuring that the OKFTZ came into fruition.

“Having become governor in 2019, it is on record that Governor Dapo Abiodun had always rued the missed opportunity and he’d embarked on efforts in reawakening the OKFTZ. At different forums, the governor had made it known that the Olokola project is a gold mine waiting to be tapped by the state.

“Apart from that, he has continued to shop for would-be investors to bring the project to life. His administration has not relented in bringing net-worth players in oil and gas as well as maritime, to ensure that the natural resources in OKFTZ such as bitumen, natural deep seaport, marine and natural gas are tapped for the economic development of Ogun State.” The state added .

“Even, before Aliko Dangote declared on Monday at the official commissioning of the refinery in Lagos, that Ogun was the next port of call, Governor Abiodun was already wooing Dangote to reconsider the Gateway State.”

The statement further stated that the people of the state know the administration that worked to sabotage the establishment of the refinery in the state.

Somorin posited that the Governor Abiodun’s government should be applauded for working to revive OKFTZ.