OGLABOT Seeks Greater Attention To Ogun-Lagos Border Communities

The Ogun-Lagos Border Towns Development Group (OGLABOT) has urged the Ogun State Government to prioritise the development of communities along the state’s boundary with Lagos, citing infrastructure gaps and untapped economic opportunities in the areas.

The group made the call during an engagement with the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, YAYI, where it presented a development document outlining the needs and priorities of border communities.

The document, according to OGLABOT, was developed from consultations with residents, traditional and community leaders, business owners and other stakeholders in the affected communities.

The group said the rapid expansion of the border towns had placed growing pressure on existing infrastructure and public services, including roads, housing, schools, healthcare facilities and markets.

It also drew attention to economic opportunities in the areas, including Tongeji Island, which it said could contribute more significantly to Ogun State’s economy if supported with appropriate transportation links and public infrastructure.

Speaking on the initiative, OGLABOT Coordinator, Simeon Olu Okeowo, said the group would continue to ensure that the needs of border communities featured prominently in the state’s development plans.

“OGLABOT is an initiative that predates 2011 and was initiated by Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI). Since then, the development of the border communities has remained an agenda that we have continued to push. We believe the people in these communities deserve to have their voices heard, and that is why we have continued to engage residents, community leaders and other stakeholders and document the issues that require government attention,” Okeowo said.

He added that OGLABOT would sustain its engagements with relevant stakeholders while advocating practical interventions to address the challenges confronting the communities.

Dr Boye said the group’s consultations had revealed considerable economic potential across the border communities, but noted that inadequate infrastructure remained a major constraint to sustainable development.

He specifically mentioned Tongeji Island, the need for bridges in parts of Ogun Central and infrastructure deficiencies in heavily populated communities where residents, he said, often struggled to feel the impact of government.

Also speaking, Hon Deji Olatunya said OGLABOT’s town hall meetings had provided an avenue for the organisation to obtain first-hand accounts of the challenges facing residents.

“Our town hall meetings have allowed us to hear directly from the people. We have been able to identify not only the problems but also practical areas where intervention can make a difference,” he said.

Pastor Abel Fadebi said the projects outlined in OGLABOT’s development document could produce benefits beyond the immediate border communities.

He said the implementation of the proposed projects would improve living conditions, encourage greater tax compliance, boost public confidence and stimulate economic activity across the state.

Fadebi also highlighted the political significance of the densely populated border communities, noting that OGLABOT’s grassroots network could facilitate broader consultations, mobilisation and town hall meetings in the affected areas.

Responding to the presentation, Adeola announced plans to develop a 30-year master plan for Ogun State, while recognising the strategic role of the border communities in the state’s long-term development.

He also commended Gboyega Nasir Isiaka (GNI) for consistently promoting initiatives aimed at advancing the development of the border communities and Ogun State as a whole.

Adeola said OGLABOT’s proposals were consistent with aspects of his broader development vision and expressed his willingness to incorporate relevant recommendations into his policy agenda ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

He disclosed that work had commenced on the proposed master plan, which is expected to take about 18 months to complete. According to him, the plan would provide a long-term framework for residential and commercial development, transportation infrastructure and other public facilities.

Adeola said Ogun State could no longer rely on uncoordinated growth, particularly in communities experiencing rapid expansion due to their proximity to Lagos.

“We cannot continue to govern without a functional master plan. Development must be properly coordinated, and adequate infrastructure must be provided if our people are to experience the true presence of government,” Adeola said.

The senator also identified Tongeji Island, mineral resources and industrialisation as areas that could help expand Ogun State’s economic base.

He subsequently asked OGLABOT to nominate a three-member committee to collaborate with his policy team. The committee will review the group’s recommendations alongside his manifesto and economic blueprint and develop additional proposals for the development of the border towns.

The engagement was facilitated by Gboyega Nasir Isiaka as part of efforts to align OGLABOT’s development proposals with Adeola’s broader policy direction ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

OGLABOT said it would continue to advocate sustained planning and investment in Ogun’s border communities, particularly as population growth and increasing economic activity continue to put pressure on infrastructure and public services.