Olawunmi Ajibike
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has pledged to overhaul the state’s revenue system and recover taxes he believes are generated from economic activities in Ogun but currently accrue to Lagos State.
Adeola, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District in the National Assembly, made the promise during an interactive session with journalists at the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Abeokuta.
Speaking on his economic plans ahead of the 2027 governorship election, the senator said Ogun’s status as one of Nigeria’s major industrial centres had not translated into commensurate internally generated revenue because of what he described as structural leakages in the tax system.
According to him, several companies operate large manufacturing plants and industrial facilities in Ogun while maintaining their corporate headquarters and senior management offices in Lagos. As a result, he argued, taxes paid by highly placed executives and other corporate employees are often credited to Lagos.
Adeola said his proposed administration would intensify efforts to ensure that Ogun receives greater fiscal benefits from economic activities taking place within its territory.
He noted that Lagos had recorded about ₦1.6 trillion in revenue, arguing that a significant portion of the figure was linked to businesses with substantial operations in Ogun.
“Many of these industries establish themselves in our state but take their head offices to Lagos. By doing so, the return on investment from establishing in my state cannot be compared with what it should be, because the top echelon, all the managers and directors are in Lagos, and their taxes are paid to Lagos,” he said.
Rather than relying solely on existing inter-state tax reconciliation arrangements, Adeola proposed the establishment of a Central Business District in Abeokuta where companies with major operations in Ogun would be encouraged to maintain regional offices.
He said such offices should accommodate some senior managers and executive-level personnel to ensure that the state benefits more directly from the economic activities taking place within its borders.
“I am not saying you should take your head office out of Lagos, but in my new Central Business District here in Abeokuta, come and establish your regional office so that I can have some of your managers and even an Executive Director here,” he stated.
The APC candidate also promised to review mining activities across the state, particularly the extraction of solid minerals by commercial operators working under federal licences.
He expressed concern that Ogun’s mineral resources were being exploited without sufficient financial benefits accruing to the state government and said his administration would seek stronger mechanisms for ensuring that the state derives greater value from its natural resources.
On employment, Adeola criticised the continued use of casual and non-resident workers by some industrial establishments operating in Ogun.
He pledged to introduce a local content policy that would prioritise qualified indigenes in employment opportunities and encourage companies to reserve appropriate managerial positions for suitably qualified residents of the state.
The senator said the proposed measures were part of a broader economic agenda aimed at increasing Ogun’s revenue base, creating more employment opportunities for residents and ensuring that the state derives greater economic value from its growing industrial sector.