By our Reporter
The Ondo State Government has constituted a Technical Committee to undertake a comprehensive review of the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ) project as part of efforts to address outstanding legal, administrative and operational issues surrounding the initiative.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa announced the establishment of the committee on Monday, tasking its members with assessing the current status of the project and advising the government on the most appropriate course of action.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, the committee will be chaired by Chief Bode Sunmonu, while the Chief Executive Officer of the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Mr. Emmanuel Omomowo, will serve as Secretary.
Other members of the committee are Barrister Yinka Orokoto, Mr. Sola Adebisi, Mr. Idowu Ojo, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, and Engr. Femi Akarakiri, Director at ONDIPA.
The committee has been mandated to operate within clearly defined Terms of Reference, which include conducting a legal review of issues relating to the project, engaging relevant stakeholders, verifying land matters, addressing community relations concerns, and facilitating inter-state coordination where necessary.
It will also consider any additional matters referred to it by the state government in the course of its assignment.
The Olokola Free Trade Zone project, conceived as a major industrial and economic development hub, is expected to stimulate investment, create employment opportunities and drive economic growth within Ondo State and the wider region.
The state government expressed confidence that the committee’s work would provide a clear framework for resolving outstanding issues and repositioning the project to achieve its intended objectives.
The committee is expected to submit recommendations that will guide government decisions on the future of the Olokola Free Trade Zone and enhance efforts to attract strategic investments into the state.
