The announcement by billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote that he plans to return to the Olokola axis with a multi-billion-dollar industrial investment has renewed concerns among stakeholders in Ogun East over the state’s inability to retain major development projects.
Rather than being greeted solely with celebration, the development has sparked fresh debate about how strategic investments originally linked to the Olokola Free Trade Zone have repeatedly slipped away from Ogun State.
Many residents and political stakeholders are asking why a project conceived around Olokola is now set to benefit neighbouring Ondo State while Ogun once again appears to be missing out on significant economic opportunities.
The situation has also revived memories of the Dangote Refinery, one of Africa’s largest industrial projects, which was initially associated with the Olokola Free Trade Zone before eventually being established in Lagos.
Critics note that the latest development mirrors earlier concerns over investment decisions linked to the Olokola axis, with many questioning why Ogun State has struggled to maximise the area’s economic potential.
Meanwhile, Governor Dapo Abiodun has come under renewed scrutiny, particularly as discussions about the 2027 political landscape and the Ogun East Senatorial District begin to gather momentum.
Stakeholders argue that the loss of such investments carries significant consequences, including missed employment opportunities, reduced industrial growth, lower economic activity, and delayed infrastructure development in communities across Ogun East.
At the same time, Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa is being applauded for securing the latest investment initiative, which many believe could transform the economic fortunes of the host communities.
For many residents of Ogun East, the debate has shifted from political rhetoric to questions of accountability and performance. They insist that the state deserves answers on what became of the Olokola vision and why opportunities capable of reshaping the region’s economy have repeatedly failed to materialise within Ogun.
As political activities ahead of the 2027 elections gradually intensify, analysts believe the fate of the Olokola Free Trade Zone and the state’s handling of strategic investments could emerge as one of the defining issues for voters in Ogun East.
