Prominent leaders in Ikorodu Division including His Royal Majesty, Oba Kabir Shotobi and former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye are among eminent persons who have backed the state government to relocate the council secretariat at TOS Benson road now to Lagos road and lease out.
The massive premises of the former secretariat to investors who will generate multi billion naira revenue for the state and the six local governments in the division.
In a statement issued on Thursday July 19, 2018, eminent leaders in the division including two ex-secretary of Lagos State government Asiwaju Bashorun Olorunfunmi and Princess Aderenle Ogunsanya, Vice Chairman in charge of the All Progressives Congress in Lagos East Senatorial District Asipa Kaoli Olusanya and chairman of the Council of Baales in Ikorodu Division, Chief Muftau Odusoga and the chairman of Ikorodu CDCS, Alhaji Lukman Shonibare among others power brokers threw their weights behind the state government decision to relocate the Beach road secretariat and give out the vast premises to investors, who will turn around the fortunes of the place.
These leaders affirmed the decision of prominent Ikorodu indigenes reached last year 2017 to lease out the secretarial premises since the creation of six local governments in Ikorodu division had made that secretariat redundant and too big for one local government alone.
They dispelled rumour that the site was being sold to South African Commercial giant – Shoprite explaining that the huge land is being leased out to investors who will in turn bring in Shoprite as one of its tenants among other tenants such as banks, cinema, restaurants, etc.
Throwing more light, the leaders stated that the multi-billion investment will generate employment and promote the gross national product of the state and that profits from this venture will be showed out to benefit the joint owners of the land – the six local council.
Prince Ogunleye had stated in the release that the planners of this project are ensuring optional use of that land since the site is presently gross underutilized. He said the project will boost socio-economic life in this division and add to the GNP of the state.
Oba Shotobi in his remarks lauded Governor Ambode for the initiative stressing that the land was not sold to outsiders. Some critics of the project had argued that a virgin land would have been chosen for this initiative instead of displacing an existing secretariat as they alleged that Ikorodu land was being sold to foreigners.
In is contribution Asipa Kaoli Olusanya noted that the influx of population into Ikorodu division justified exploring more economically viable projects that will generate jobs and boost the economy of the division. He added that the proposed project was in line with the regional master plan of the state and will promote entrepreneurship and the hospitality and entertainment ventures etc.
Chief Odusoga also pledged the support of the Baales for this projects saying it will bring prosperity to the division.