Sanwo-Olu to turn Ojo into economic hub with new complex

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu is planning to remodel Ojo Local Government with key infrastructural projects, a boost for a community that’s popular for housing shanties.

Sanwo-Olu who spoke at the groundbreaking foundation laying of the Platinum shopping complex on Tuesday said his administration is leaving no part of Lagos undeveloped, highlighting key projects like the blue rail and the specialist hospital being structured in Ojo.

“Right in front is a university. So all around here, we’re regenerating and we’re repurposing so that we can improve not only the transportation infrastructure, where you have the rail line there, but also the physical infrastructure. There’s a lot of BRT improvement at Iba Junction that we’re doing,” the governor said.

He emphasised that the shopping complex will phase out road side sellers and “bring them in, into a more formal means where the complex will be available for them and the shops”, a move that will allow the “Ojo people to live well”.

“Let them live well like other parts of the city and see real development. Hospital is here, rail is here, market is here, school is here. It’s all a change and improvement of your lifestyle,” Sanwo-Olu said.

The event was witnessed by Obafemi Hamzat, deputy Governor of Lagos State, Abimbola Salu-Hundeyin, secretary to the Lagos State Government, Bolaji Adebajo, managing director, MGE Realty and many other members of the Lagos state executive council and legislators representing Ojo constituency.

Read also: Sanwo-Olu inspects largest general hospital coming to Ojo

The Lagos State governor further said the location of these key infrastructure is meant to boost the socio-economic wellbeing of the residents of Ojo, assuring that the complex, upon completion, would be affordable and accessible to all dwellers of the community.

Structured to have 1,290 shops, the Platinum shopping complex is directly opposite Lagos State University via Iyana-Iba/Igando road with its completion expected in not more than 18 months.

The essence of building a modern shopping complex for this local government area is to ensure that Lagos State is kept clean and safe, according to Nnamdi Odoh, sales team lead of MGE Realty, the property firm in charge of sales and marketing of the complex.

“A lot of people who have markets or shops on the roadside will have the opportunity to come in and rent shops here, lease shops here. This will make sure that the road becomes less busy. So, that’s the idea of this particular project, so that everybody can have an opportunity to get a unit here, Odoh said while speaking to journalists.

He further added that the decision to bring such an ultra-modern shopping complex to the community was premised on the fact that Ojo is a very big local government area and Iyana-Iba holds one of the largest roadside markets in Lagos, adding that the project will give the local government a facelift.

Read also: Sanwo-Olu vows to tackle infrastructural challenges in riverine communities

“This is a one-of-a-kind project in this particular location. So, this will definitely bring a lot of eye-openers, a lot of investors, a lot of people who have businesses in Lagos,” stating that the firm has done “elaborate market study” to ensure prices of each unit is affordable.

According to Funmi Obikoya, head of sales at MGE Realty, the project is expected to be completed in phases with business activities to begin in the next six months to one year.

“We have 1,290 and it’s going to be actually 4 phases. So, when we finish the first phase, we’ll cut it off while we do the construction of the others so that people can actually start doing their businesses,” she said.

The complex is being handled by five developers: Almera Global Investment Services, Ojo Local Government, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, First Trust Mortgage Bank and MGE Realty Limited which serves as sales and marketing partner.