Once the amenities are in place, Sanwo-Olu said the Government would start relocating the saw millers. He added the access road would be tarred immediately after the crossing bridge is completed. Sanwo-Olu, however, said alternative roads had been completed to pave the way for smooth relocation of the saw millers. The Governor explained why there was a delay in the construction of a 3km access road from the main expressway to the site, stressing that the ongoing construction of a bridge crossing on-site slowed down work on the road. It’s been a very long journey, but our administration is committed to bringing the long wait to an end.” In this regard, we are making additional funding available to the contractor to ensure that before the end of this year, we all should sing Hallelujah and bring everybody down here. What is left is to clear the trailer path for the saw millers, and put up a police post and a fire service. The ship piles where ships will be berthing have been done. “The leaders of Oko Baba saw millers’ association are excited and are willing to relocate to the site. The other amenity built on this site is a brickette plant facility which will be managed by LAWMA. We also have offices in their various shades that have been built. Part of the facilities we have put in place for the potential Oko Baba saw millers that will be moving here is 160 units of two-bedroom flats that have been completed. We have invested a lot of resources to be able to bring it to a useable level. He said: “This project has been on for years, but we are happy that our own Government has brought it back.

He disclosed that 160 units of two-bedroom flats had been completed for the accommodation of the inhabitants, while blocks of offices for administrative services had been out in place. The State Government, Sanwo-Olu said, revised the approved design of the project to bring more amenities to Timberville for the comfort of the timber traders. The Governor, joined by his deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat, and Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, also inspected a 1,500 tons per hour brickette plant built on the site by Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), which will enable the conversion of mill’s byproduct to combustible brick materials for industrial use.

Abdul-Ganiu Onikeku joined the Governor on the tour of the site. The saw millers could not hold back their excitement at the development their leader, Alh. Sanwo-Olu revisited the project by re-mobilizing the contractor back on the site. The project was stalled afterwards, creating an atmosphere of uncertainty over the fate of the saw millers in Oko Baba. In a statement, the State Government started the development of the Timberville during the Babatunde Fashola administration. The Governor gave the assurance on Tuesday during his tour of Agbowa-Ikosi Timberville in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area (LCDA) to inspect the level of work done on the site.

Sawmill market