Governor welcomes admission of Lagos into Odua group

dimeji akinloye

January 20, 2016 9:07 PM

According to him, this will help to build a strong regional infrastructural and social link amongst the states.

Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode

Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Wednesday expressed joy and enthusiasm on the admission of the state as the sixth member of the Odu’a Group.

Ambode, in a statement by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, described it as a major landmark in the effort of the South-Western states of Nigeria toward regional integration.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the decision to admit the state to Odu’a Group was taken at the end of a meeting of the five governors of Oyo, Ondo, Ogun, Osun and Ekiti States in Ibadan on Tuesday.

Ambode said he believed that the drive toward regionally integrating the region could not be effectively pursued if all the states in the region did not combine their resources and maximise their comparative advantages.

"Lagos joining the Odu’a Group is a priority for this administration," he said.

According to him, the state, with its huge population and vibrant economic base, is uniquely placed to contribute to the development and growth of the Odu’a Investment Company Limited.

He said that the state was poised to contribute to the investment arm of the group and the integration of the region.

The governor expressed his gratitude to the group for the decision and looked forward to his government working with other states toward the betterment and development of the region and its people.

dimeji akinloye