…as Akpabio asks Ondo to adopt strategic thinking on global stage
The Ondo State Government, on Monday, signed a series of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) on a deep seaport and the establishment of a petrochemical fertiliser plant worth $4 billion as part of the state’s investment drive.
Just as Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President, called on the Ondo State Government to adopt strategic thinking and position itself for success on the global stage.
Speaking at the Ondo State Investment Summit 2026, held in Akure, Akpabio, enjoined Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to ignore criticism, noting that his achievements would speak for him.
Akpabio, who was represented by Jimoh Ibrahim, Senator, representing Ondo South Senatorial District, urged the governor to have a strategy that can serve as his legacy even after his tenure in Office.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, in his speech, said Ondo would no longer rely predominantly on civil service structures but would reposition itself as a private sector-led industrial powerhouse driven by structured policy, regulatory clarity and political will.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who declared unequivocally that the State is open for business, industry, innovation and global partnerships, unveiled what he described as a decisive economic shift from consumption to production.
This came amid the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoU), including one for a deep seaport project in which Government would hold a 12.5% stake, while the partnering companies would take 87.5% equity.
Another agreement was signed between Resident Fertilizer and the State Government for a $4 billion petrochemical fertiliser plant project in the Southern Senatorial District of Ondo State.
“Investors do not go where there is potential alone. They go where there is structure, certainty, and political will and Ondo State offers all three,” he said.
Governor Aiyedatiwa stressed that the summit was not a ceremonial gathering but a commitment to measurable outcomes.
He assured participants that every engagement, investment discussion and decision reached at the Forum would be tracked, adding that by the 2027 edition, the State would present implemented projects and demonstrable economic impact arising from commitments made this year.
Under his administration’s “OUR EASE” agenda, the governor said the government had prioritised creating an enabling environment where investment thrives by simplifying processes, strengthening institutions, improving transparency and accelerating approvals.
Rather than plead for opportunities, he presented what he termed tangible advantages: approximately 75 kilometres of natural coastline with direct access to the Atlantic Ocean; one of the largest bitumen deposits in the world; agricultural strengths in cocoa, oil palm, rubber, and timber; deposits of limestone, granite, and kaolin; oil-producing communities in Ilaje and Ese-Odo; connectivity to at least seven neighbouring states; and a strong diaspora population.
At the centre of the State’s industrial vision is the proposed Ondo Deep Sea Port under a Public-Private Partnership concession framework.
Designed with a natural draft of between 16.5 and 18 metres and direct Atlantic access, the port is expected to accommodate large commercial vessels and position Ondo as a strategic maritime gateway.
Bordering the proposed port is the Sunshine Industrial City, designated as a Free Trade Zone spanning 2,771 hectares. Together, both projects are conceived as an integrated port-linked industrial ecosystem comprising manufacturing, maritime services, petrochemical processing, agro-industrial facilities, and logistics platforms with direct export access.
The governor described the convergence of geography, policy support, tax incentives and institutional backing as a frontier opportunity grounded in strong fundamentals.
On energy and industrial development, he cited Ondo’s proximity to the Niger Delta energy belt as a compelling advantage for gas-based industries, embedded generation solutions and independent power projects tailored to industrial clusters.
As global production models evolve under the energy transition, he said the state is positioning itself as a reliable hub for distributed and transition-economy energy solutions.
