Ogun Allots 500 Hectares of Land To Lagos state

Abiodun Onafuye/ Abeokuta

In furtherance to the southwest government plans for socio-economic and political regional integration, the Ogun state government this afternoon allocated a 500 hectares of land in Eggua community in Yewa north local government area of Ogun state, southwest, Nigeria to the Lagos state government for its agricultural programme.

Also, the Ogun state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun handed over the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of Iju Water Works to his Lagos state counterpart,Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola while reconnaissance of Adiyan Water Works land area is on-going.

This among other issues were contained in a communique issued at a joint meeting of the two governors and other top officials from the
two states today at the Government House, Oke- Igbein, Abeokuta, copy of which was made available to our correspondent.

The meeting also reiterated that the basis for personal income tax payment is the Residency rule which stipulates that taxes should be paid to the state where the tax payer resides.

“In this regard, the two states will reconcile the number of tax payers resident in each state that work in the other state”, the
communique stated.

The communique also confirmed the report of the Joint Boundary Committee of the two states, co-chaired by its deputy governors,Prince
Segun Adesegun for Ogun state and Mrs Adejoke Orelope- Adefulire relating to some communities that falls within the border areas of the
two states.

According to the communique,”…..issues relating to fifteen border areas identified have been fully resolved. The communities are:Iragbo,
Agbara,River Ilo, Iroko village, Isheri, Emuren, Ojodu, Akute, Ajuwon, Mojoda, Ogijo, Agbado, Alagbole, Iju and Ilogbo Eremi.The deputy governors will flag off the joint signposting of the boundaries that have been agreed on”.

In the meantime, the two states have agreed to maintain the status quo and await the determination by the National Boundary Commission on the
Ode- Omi community issue located in the Ogun Waterside local government area of the state.

Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the governor of Lagos state, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola stated that the meeting was held in Ogun
state to enable the government and the people of the Gateway state believe that they are really serious about resolving the long time crisis
between the two states mainly on the border and tax issues.

“We resolved to come down to Ogun to have this meeting after several meetings chaired by the two deputy governors have been held in Lagos. Now that it has come to the stage of ratifying what had been agreed on and to let our people here believe in us that we are fully ready for total reconciliation, we have to move down with all my people here to sign the communique and I can assure you, we will ensure that all what is in the communique given to you will be followed to the latter”,
Fashola assured.

Governor Babatunde Fashola and his team were later taken to Ita Iyalode-Totoro-Lalubu road where a magnificent overhead bridge is under construction in the state.