Egba Economic Summit Group urges Ogun to revive Abeokuta city centre

ABUJA – The Egba Economic Summit Group has called on the Ogun State Government and all relevant stakeholders to urgently intervene and revive the Abeokuta City Centre in Oke-Ilewo, warning that the dilapidated state of the project could have serious economic and security implications for the state capital.

In a statement signed by the President of the Summit Group, Dr Gbenga Adeoye, the organisation described the Oke Ilewo area as “the commercial nerves of Abeokuta” and stressed that it has historically been central to the economic and administrative life of the state.

“The Oke Ilewo in Abeokuta is well known as the commercial nerve of our city, ahead of Sapon in terms of elite activities, and it is the closest to Ibara GRA in terms of value and standard. It serves as the cluster for banks in the state capital. Apart from that, it used to be the state secretariat. As a matter of fact, the governor’s office used to be at Oke Ilewo and that should be a tourist centre today for generations unborn to visit and connect with the history of the state creation,” the statement read.

Dr. Adeoye highlighted the presence of major public and private institutions in the area, including OPIC, Gateway Mortgage Bank, First Avenue Road, Access Bank, GTBank, Central Bank of Nigeria, and Simeon Adebo Library, noting that the region has the potential to become a thriving economic and cultural hub if properly managed.

“In the design of Abeokuta City Centre, Access Bank and GTBank were meant to build their regional offices, and GTBank Plc has fulfilled that promise with the most gigantic structure in the city centre. The place consists of shopping malls and an amphitheatre if completed. Around the city centre is Nigerian Police Mobile Force, Zone 2. The Central Bank of Nigeria and Simeon Adebo Library are all in the area. Overlooking the city centre is the house of the former Interim Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan. That is another tourist centre. The city centre should consist of structures like Providus Bank standing opposite, not far from OPIC roundabout,” it said.

The group warned that without immediate intervention, the area could become a hideout for criminals, undermining both security and economic potential.

“Our team visited the area on Monday, 5th January, 2026, and the pictures taken from various elevations of the structure indicate that if nothing is done urgently, the place will become a hideout for criminals.

“It is dirty and does not befit the area to have such a situation around a regional bank, CBN, and OPIC building. We must copy Lagos in ensuring no asset is allowed to waste away,” the group added.

Adeoye urged stakeholders to set aside personal interests and engage in dialogue or arbitration to resolve disputes surrounding land use and ownership, emphasizing the greater public interest.

“Although there are issues around the purpose for which land was released for secretariat many years back, and the need to carry the original owner along if there is a change of use, development of the city centre as a project that can uplift the economy of Ogun State and the state capital appears as a good public interest and can be made to override other personal desire and interest if proper dialogue is adopted in the form of arbitration,” he stated, adding that security and economic well-being of Ogun State is more important than any other personal interest.

The group also offered to play a vital role in resolving the dispute, in collaboration with major traditional rulers in Ogun Central Senatorial District.

“We hereby plead with the Government of Ogun State and all stakeholders to sit on a round table in the interest of the overall economic well-being of our state. The state capital should not have this kind of asset wasting away after spending hundreds of millions or even billions, whether from government purse or private pocket.

“Without any partisan consideration, we plead with government and all stakeholders to come to a round table and get this matter resolved. We are willing to nominate our members to join in finding a lasting solution to this problem. The location of the city centre is too unique and special to be left abandoned to rot away.”

Adeoye concluded the statement by urging Ogun State indigenes and government to invest in the development of the state in 2026, based on its comparative economic advantages.

“While wishing all Egbas and all Ogun State indigenes a Happy New Year, we pray and request that government and all well-to-do people from Ogun State should invest in the development of our dear Gateway State in 2026 in various sectors of the economy based on comparative advantage of Ogun State,” the statement said.