Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, and his Bauchi State counterpart, Senator Bala Mohammed, revealed on Friday that both states have partnered to strengthen their existing relationship through agricultural development and industrialisation.

According to the governors, the partnership has already attracted a major investment to Ondo State, with plans underway for the establishment of a fertiliser production and ammonia plant, as well as a petrochemical industry, within the next 12 months.

While accompanying Mohammed to Akure, the state capital, the investor, who is the Executive Director of Residents Group Cement, Dr. Abbas Waziri, disclosed that the investment, valued at $2.6 billion, is expected to boost the state’s economy, create thousands of jobs, and improve agricultural productivity and industrial development.

Aiyedatiwa, who appreciated the Bauchi State governor for facilitating the opportunity for Ondo State, emphasised that development aligns with his administration’s efforts to strengthen the economy and provide jobs for the numerous youths in the state.

He said, “I want to specially thank Governor Bala Mohammed for this development and for personally visiting us here. I have also watched what you are doing in Bauchi State; you’ve done so well for your people, partnering with local and international investors to develop your state, and that is what we are doing here too.”

Aiyedatiwa also outlined steps already being taken towards the realisation of the long-awaited Ondo Deep Seaport project, which he described as a game-changer for the state’s economic growth.

“We have the longest coastline in Nigeria with the deepest draft. It has always been there, but for some reason it has not been tapped, but this time around, the last administration started the process, which I am trying to complete now, to build a deep seaport, a first in Nigeria that can take a modern vessel.

“We are ready, and we are building the necessary infrastructure already. I just flagged off the dualisation of the Igbokoda to Okitipupa road, and the 2nd phase will be from Okitipupa to Ore. So, before you finish building your plant, the roads will have been completed.

“The typography is beautiful. Anything petrochemical, refinery, or seaport in that axis, we have the space, and it is also a free trade zone. All of this will be of benefit to investors and also to us as a people. So, I want to thank you for choosing Ondo State for this major investment.”

The Governor of Bauchi State, who praised Aiyedatiwa’s efforts in diversifying revenue sources beyond the federation account, stated that both states, under a peer review mechanism, are committed to attracting investors for the benefit of their people.

“Far away in Bauchi, we have been watching you with keen interest. What you are doing here, there is a lot of similarity between us, providing our people with leverage and latitude to exploit their capabilities and find alternatives to earn a living to actualise their aspirations,” Mohammed said.

The Bauchi governor revealed that in his quest to drive development in his state, Residents Group Cement has already established a $1.5 billion cement factory in Bauchi State and therefore expressed interest in replicating the same investment in Ondo State.

Also, the investor, Dr. Abbas Waziri, who commended the working relationship between the Ondo and Bauchi State governors, said, “We are looking at investing 2.6 billion dollars in the state, and within 12 months it would be ready.”