The Lagos State Government plans to partner with K.S.A. Intergrated Service Limited to build an ultra-modern sheep and goat market in Ikorodu through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to ensure that sheep and goats coming into the state on daily basis are taken to a central market approved by the state government.
In an exclusive interview with Oriwu Sun recently, Dr. Adetunji Jolaosho, a Venting Public Health Officer and one of the Directors of K.S.A., said the aim was to avoid a situation whereby sheep and goats being brought in are scattered across the state. He said it is an ultra-modern market, where both wholesale and retailing of sheep and goat could be carried out.
According to him, the state government has already allocated ten hectares of land at Itowolo Community, along Lagos-Ikorodu road, to K.S.A. for the project and they are also willing to provide necessary technical assistance whenever the need arises. Jolaosho also said that the multi-billion naira project would be solely financed by K.S.A. Integrated. It is a Limited Liability Company with five Directors, who are all Nigerians.
Dr. Jolaosho named the Directors, some of whom are based in America and the United States, as Dr. Adetunji Jolaosho (himself), Dr. Akere, Dr. Ogedengbe, Dr. Bayo Dawodu.
In his words, they all came together to put to good use, their passion for Agricultural Development. While explaining the choice of Ikorodu for the project, Jolaoso explained that after inspecting the three locations earmarked by the State Government, they found out that the land at Ologe in Badagry had been badly affected by sand-drilling activities in the area while the one in Oko-Oba, Agege was crowded and lacked the required space for the project.
He stated that Itowolo remains the most viable location while also disclosing that the company couldn’t commence work on the project for the past four years because it required a long term planning. He pointed out that this had assisted them to address necessary issues, among which is the need to fine tune the financing arrangement towards its successful execution.
The Public Health Officer also revealed that aside its economic gain to the State, the project, on completion, would give the immediate community (Itowolo) added exposure while also putting its name on the world map as the central sheep and goat market in Lagos State. It would equally provide and generate thousands of direct and indirect employment for the residents of Ikorodu and Lagos State in general. He also assured that the company would establish a good relationship with the people of Ikorodu in terms of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Revealing further, Dr. Jolaosho stated that the entire project would cost about #4.2 billion Naira while the first phase would gulp about #2 billion Naira. According to him, most of the materials for the project would be locally sourced to save cost. He, however, identified dredging of the land as one aspect that would gulp most of the allocated funds due to the swampy and marshy nature of the area as well as the need to sand-fill the site to bring the level to two metres above sea level in tandem with the main road.
Dr. Bayo Dawodu, another Director of K.S.A. Integrated and an indigene of Ikorodu, while speaking on the alleged sale of part of the allocated land for the project by some families in Ikorodu community, countered that it was a non-issue since Baales, Chiefs and the entire residents of the community were aware that the land belongs to the Lagos State Government.
He disclosed that the choice of Ikorodu for the project site as well as the opportunities and developments that would accrue to Ikorodu and its residents are some of the reasons he’s giving his full support to the company. He assured that K.S.A. would build a world class Sheep and Goat Market; hence, he urged the residents of the host community and the entire Ikorodu people to embrace and support the project as it would benefit all and sundry.