Sanwo-olu sets December deadline for the relocation of Oko Baba Saw Millers to permanent site. Governor visits Agbowa-Ikosi Timberville, declaring that the government has the political will to finish the project.
We’re prepared to relocate to the new location: Saw Millers’ Leader
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu promised the timber dealers that the protracted wait for the anticipated relocation of Oko Baba saw millers from Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland, to a proposed permanent site in Agbowa, will end in December.
While touring Agbowa-Ikosi Timberville in the Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) on Tuesday to assess the degree of construction there, the Governor provided the assurance.
While Babatunde Fashola was governor, the State Government began to construct Timberville. After then, the project was put on hold, casting doubt over what would happen to the saw millers in Oko Baba.
By getting the contractor back on the job site, Sanwo-Olu went back to the project. The saw millers were ecstatic about the new construction and their leader, Alh. Abdul-Ganiu Onikeku, went on the tour with the governor.The Governor also visited a 1,500 tons per hour brickette plant that the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) had built on the property. This plant will allow the conversion of mill waste into combustible brick materials for industrial use. The Governor was joined by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, and the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako.
According to Sanwo-Olu, the State Government updated the project’s authorized design to include extra amenities for the comfort of the timber traders in Timberville.
He revealed that 160 two-bedroom apartments had been finished for the residents’ housing, and that office buildings had been set up for administrative functions.
“This project has been ongoing for years, but we are pleased that our own Government has reinstated it,” he declared. To get it to a usable state, a lot of resources have been used. We have 160 completed two-bedroom apartments as part of the facilities we have set up for future Oko Baba saw millers that may move here. We have also constructed workplaces in their varied hues. The brickette plant facility is the other amenity constructed on this property, and it will be
“The Oko Baba Saw Millers’ Association’s officials are enthusiastic and ready to move to the location. Where ships will berth, ship piles have been constructed. The only remaining tasks are to set up a police station and a fire department, as well as to clear the trailer path for the saw millers. To ensure that we can all sing Hallelujah and get everyone down here by the end of this year, we are making more cash available to the contractor in this regard. Although the road has been exceedingly long, our government is dedicated to ending the protracted wait.
The Governor emphasized that the ongoing building of a bridge crossing on-site caused a delay in the construction of the road, which is a 3 km access road from the major expressway to the site.
Alternative highways, according to Sanwo-Olu, have been finished to allow for the saw millers’ easy migration. He stated that as soon as the crossing bridge is finished, the access road will be paved.
Sanwo-Olu stated that the government will begin moving the saw millers once the amenities were set up. He emphasized that his administration has the political will to finish the project and relocate the residents.
“They are waiting on us to clean up and make sure that Timberville is completely habitable for them,” the governor added. According to their arrangement with the saw millers, they are prepared to move. Even while we have the political will to make sure this relocation happens, we don’t want to relocate our folks to an area that isn’t yet ready. “The Oko Oba saw millers have cooperated with the government and worked tirelessly with us to guarantee that everything needed is delivered. Although the road has been exceedingly long, our government is dedicated to ending the protracted wait.
The Timberville project may have been finished, according to Onikeku, president of the Lagos Mainland Sawmillers Association, but for the dispute over the project’s design, which caused it to be abandoned.
“All of us are glad that Gov. Sanwo-Olu has revitalized this project after it was abandoned for a long time,” he remarked. The design was not carried out in accordance with our agreement, which is one of the reasons we did not support the previous administration. This has been changed, and the new design incorporates our suggestions.
“Our guys will not be sent here to play a game of ludo; they are coming to cut down trees, and we will use the facility wisely. We want to thank the governor and his deputy for listening to our requests to resurrect the project when we spoke with them about the development.
