Implementation that will see major towns in Ogun State such as Abeokuta, Sagamu, Ado-Odo/Ota and Ijebu-Ode enjoy uninterrupted power supply have started in the state.
The state governor, Dapo Abiodun made this known at the weekend during an engagement with leaders, Governor’s Liaison Officers, local government chairmen and newly elected members of the House of Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He disclosed that his administration in it’s second term would also focus more on ensuring the availability of water supply across the state.
Abiodun also noted that his administration while continuing with its infrastructural development across the twenty local government areas of the state, would ensure that the choice of infrastructure in terms of roads come from the people in it’s quest to remain inclusive and participatory in governance.
“We are going to focus on a few things and one of those are public utilities. Water supply is going to get our utmost attention in this next term, power supply will also get our utmost attention.
“We have started the implementation that will ensure that Abeokuta, Ado-Odo-Ota, Ijebu-Ode and Sagamu begin to enjoy twenty-four hours uninterrupted power supply,” he said.
Governor Abiodun, while appreciating Public and Civil Servants in the state for their commitment and support towards his administration, assured that his administration would inject a sizable amount to offset some of the emoluments meant for public and civil servants and pensioners, once it gets it repayments on federal road projects embarked upon by his administration.
“Our Civil Servants, I want to appreciate them for all their support and partnership with us, they are the engine room of government.
“Like I promised, leave bonuses from now on will be paid alongside salaries every month. We have started during that from January, so leave bonuses are being paid every month with salaries from January.
“Thankfully, all these roads that we are constructing – Epe-Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu-Abeokuta, Agbara-Atan-Lusada – and many of this federal roads that we have constructed and those that have been constructed before us have earned us a sizable refund from the Federal Government. And I have continued to plead with Mr President to see how they can pay us, even if it is a promisory note.
“I have told our civil servants, as soon as that happens, both our civil servants and pensioners, they will see us inject something sizeable amount to fully amortize those outstanding payments,” he said.
Governor Dapo Abiodun who further disclosed that his administration while ensuring that industrial revolution continues across the state, would also focus its attention on the commencement of activities at the Kajola Dry Port.
“We will ensure that our industrial revolution continues, we have a Special Agro Processing Zone happening in the airport city, AFREXIM Bank has already disbursed to our partner, that has started.
“We are now going to focus on Kajola. Kajola will be our dry port where you now ship goods from Europe, America or anywhere. If the goods are destined for Ogun State, they will not be shipped to Apapa anymore, it will be shipped to Kajola, so you can come and clear your goods at Kajola. All our industrial players will not have to go through the experience of going all the way to Apapa anymore,” he said.
Abiodun who also declared that his administration was ready to host the best ever National Sports Festival, noting that his administration was glad that the festival would not only beat the past editions, but would also ensure the opportunity it would give his administration to promote youth development and engagement.
“Whilst focusing on youth empowerment and job creation, like you know we bided for the 2024 National Sports Festival and we are very excited about it because of the opportunity to promote our youth development and engagement with our youth, so we are going to be planning and working on that.
“Thank God, our stadium is already wearing a new and befitting look but I think we are going to be using maybe one or two other stadia,” he said.
Abiodun who assured party faithful that their struggles and contributions are well noted, said “let me promise you one thing, I will be more conscious and more deliberate to ensure that we have more party faithful enjoy the dividends of this administration and that is a promise,” he said.
The governor at the engagement also presented All Progressives Congress local government party chairmen across the twenty local government areas of the state with buses.
In his remarks, the Majority Leader of the 9th Assembly and also a member-elect for the 10th Assembly; Sherif Abiodun Yusuf, representing Ado-Odo/Ota State Constituency 1 and the member-elect for Abeokuta North State Constituency, Tunde Tella, who both thanked Governor Abiodun for his immense support towards the actualization of their dreams to become members of the 10th Assembly, promised to work together with their colleagues to give his administration a firm legislative backing.
In an interview with newsmen after the meeting, the Chairman of the Governor’s Elders Advisory Council, Chief Oluneye Okuboyejo and Chief (Mrs) Iyabo Apampa, while urging the new members of the state House of Assembly on the platform of APC to work hard and pass legislation that would be for the benefit of the people they represent, also charged them to be close to their constituencies and their leaders.
