Oko-baba Sawmillers Association has applauded Lagos State government for successfully relocating them from Ebute Meta Agbowa- Ikosi Timberville, Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and provision of a modern and conducive environment for their business to thrive.
President, Lagos State mainland Sawmillers Association, Oko-baba Alhaji AbdulGaniyu Onikeku, while addressing the media at the Sawmillers New site, Agbowa-Ikosi Timberville, commended Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu for making the relocation process a reality after several administrations.
He said:” The relocation plan has been in process for decades in which different administrations have been in power but were unable to complete the project”.
Onikeku explained that Late Lateef Jakande initiated the relocation of Sawmillers from Oko-baba to Ejirin in 1980 but wasn’t realistic due to the military Junta, saying the former Governor of Lagos state, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, revived the plan to relocate the sawmillers to a new site in Agbowa after several deliberations on the previous chosen location.
He added that former Governor Babatunde Fashola and his successor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, also tried their best to implement the relocation plan by the agreement terms in the MOU during their tenure but couldn’t.
Onikeku noted that the new site significantly improved from their previous location, with better infrastructure and equipment.
“The government has promised us what we demanded, and they have fulfilled it to the best of their abilities and completed it to 80 per cent. We are pleased with the government’s efforts and look forward to continuing our business in Agbowa.
“The government has provided us with eight transformers, compared to the six we had at our previous location.
“Our sawmills were built to our specifications, and we have been given offices and other amenities, “he said.
He said the association signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) before coming to the Timber ville in Agbowa.
“All saw millers signed to be here, including those who think they can work with us, but those who refused to sign are just Middlemen who don’t have machines to bring to the site; this market is purely for Oko-baba Sawmill Industrial market, there’s nobody permanently at that Oko-baba apart from the Sawmillers,” he noted.
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