… Sets up technical committee to resolve legal, operational hurdles

The Ondo State Government has constituted a technical committee tasked with untangling the legal, administrative, and operational knots that have kept the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ) project in limbo for years.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa constituted a seven-member panel on Monday with the task of unlocking the economic potential of the deep-sea port and industrial corridor, which straddles the border between Ondo and Ogun States.

The project, envisioned as a gas and industrial hub, has suffered decades of delays due to funding gaps, inter-state disputes, and land ownership conflicts.

In a statement issued by the chief press secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, the committee will be chaired by Bode Sunmonu, a seasoned technocrat and former Nigerian ambassador.

The committee will also be steered administratively by Emmanuel Omomowo, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), who serves as secretary.

Other members include Yinka Orokoto, Sola Adebisi, Idowu Ojo (Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance), and Femi Akarakiri (Director at ONDIPA).

Aiyedatiwa tasked the committee with a mandate to chart a viable path forward with the terms of reference, including a complete legal review of all existing agreements and obligations, extensive stakeholder engagement with host communities and potential investors, meticulous land verification to resolve boundary disputes, and the strengthening of community relations.

“The committee is expected to function strictly under defined terms of reference covering legal review, stakeholder engagement, land verification, community relations, interstate coordination, and any other matters referred to it by the state government.”