BY DAUD OLATUNJI
ABEOKUTA—Some key industrialists in Ogun State, yesterday, threatened to fold up their companies over alleged infrastructure decay and corruption tendencies in the state's bureaucracy confronting them.
They lamented that despite their regular payment of taxes to government's coffer and employment of indigenes, the government had neglected them in the provision of good roads, water and power.
The industrialists, who own companies located in the state's industrial axis of Ogijo, near Sagamu, Igbesa and Agbara in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Areas expressed their disappointment during a facility tour by Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, OGUNCCIMA, to their sites.
Addressing the leadership of the Chamber led by President, President of Ota-Agbara Chamber of Commerce Industries, Mines and Agriculture, OTAGCCIMA, Bayo Ikujenyo, the Chief Executive Officer of African Fertiliser and Chemical Limited, Nara Yanan, emphasised the body's disposition to leave the state.
He said: "We will soon leave and allow Nigerians to take over the companies. We have water problems and we are afraid of water-borne diseases that could result. from this
'Government must do something'
"We have over 10,000 Nigerias in our employment. I don't see any state that has the number of companies as Ogun. We expect government to do something to checkmate our plans."
Also speaking in his office during the tour, representative of Ogun-Guandon Free Trade Zone in Igbesa, Mr. Omotayo Oduntan-Hiske, lamented deplorable condition of roads, high level of corruption, inadequate power supply, Customs and Immigration problems.
Reacting to the complaints, Ikujenyo, who expressed worry over the situation of infrastructure in the areas, promised to pass the information to the state government.
According to Ikujenyo, "the challenges were basically infrastructure. Some of the roads were in deplorable conditions. You find trucks breaking down on the roads because of potholes.
"Some are even involved in accidents. On inadequate power supply, of course, recently there was an improvement in power. But, we believe government can still do better."
Ikujenyo explained the rationale behind the tour, saying that it was designed by OTAGCCIMA to allow its members to table their challenges in the state.
Vanguard Nigeria