Obanikoro calls for more PPP to facilitate grassroots devt.
By Damilola Kushimo
A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro has called for more partnership between government and private sector to drive quick development at the grassroots.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Oke-Ogbere Bridge linking the community to other neighbouring communities in Isolo and Ejigbo which was constructed De-Prinocc Construction Company Ltd., the former minister said bridge is an infrastructure that needs to be replicated in areas that crave for development in the state due to the advantage of connectivity it facilitates.
He therefore commended the company for doing the job on PPP agreement, charging the governments to engage more private companies to handle such contracts.
“I want to commend the CEO of the company, Prince Amb. Yommy Ogungbe for the foresight, though it’s for financial purpose but in spite of that you must give kudos to him for providing such infrastructure. I commend him.
“There’s a need for government to partner with people like Ogungbe to ensure facilities like this are provided where the government doesn’t have the fund to create.
“There’s no doubt that government alone cannot provide infrastructure for every part of the state as of today because of the paucity of funds. Going into this type of collaboration with private sector will go a long way in making life better and lot easier for the people of our dear communities. This is a welcome development,” he said.
He, however, encouraged the residents to take ownership of the infrastructure, stressing that “I hope that the community itself will ensure that the investment is protected because it is one thing to have an infrastructure, it is another thing to protect it. I hope going forward, they will be able to protect it.”
The residents who spoke to ECHONEWS said aside from the benefit of linking the community to other neighbourhoods such as Bucknor, Jakande Gate, Isheri Oshun, Okota, Isolo, Amuwo Odofin, the mini market under construction and other socio-economic developments the bridge would attract are another worthy reason to commend the project.
