The Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, says his administration has recorded great achievements since it came on board two years ago despite COVID-19 and other challenges.
The Governor stated this in a broadcast to mark two years of his administration in Abeokuta, the State capital.
Governor Abiodun said even strident critics of his government have concurred that the incumbent administration has made positive impacts in areas such as housing, infrastructure, education, health, agriculture, youth empowerment and other critical sectors.
He said the state government would continue to be strategic and deliberate in the allocation of resources, just as he restated that Ogun under his leadership would continue to prioritise projects which have a direct and positive impact on Nigerians and remain frugal in the management of the “commonwealth”.
He declared that he was at peace with himself having stuck to the promise he made to deliver good governance to the people.
“In my inaugural speech, I made a covenant with God, and the good people of Ogun State that I will provide good governance. That is a government that is fair, just, equitable, accountable, open, transparent, inclusive and obeys the rule of law.
“Two years down the line, I am proud to say that we are a promise-keeping Administration. We have either fulfilled or are fulfilling all our electoral promises, in practical terms,” Abiodun noted.
Road Projects
Governor Abiodun said no fewer than 34 roads spanning over 270km had been reconstructed, while another set of 41 roads had benefitted from rehabilitation covering over 322 km.
“We have worked on over 600km of rural, intra-state, and inter-state roads spread across the three Senatorial Districts of the State, in line with our commitment to an even development of the state and the completion of inherited projects that benefit the citizens.
“The reconstructed roads include our arterial roads linking us with Lagos State, such as Ray Power Road ,and Ikola/Navy-Osi-Ota Road in Ota which were commissioned three days ago; Ijebu -Ode to Epe road, scheduled for commissioning in the next few days; and Atan – Lusada-Agbara road which was flagged off last month and is due for completion in 15 months,” he said.
In my second year anniversary address this morning, I clarified that our Administration is not limiting the focus on infrastructure to roads alone, but including a multi-modal transport system, energy, and housing. In all, we have reconstructed 270km of 34 roads,…. pic.twitter.com/dBhDO4gPDO
— Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun – MFR (@dabiodunMFR) May 29, 2021
Youth empowerment
Governor Abiodun said his administration is determined to harness the potentials of technology-savvy youth and the status of the state as the Education Capital of the nation in the digital economy.
“This informed a number of initiatives, including the establishment of the Ogun Techhub and the recent flag-off of Ogun State Digital Economy Infrastructure Project (OGDEIP).
“6,000 kilometres of fibre optic cables will be laid across the state to provide easily accessible and affordable broadband Internet connectivity across the nooks and crannies of the State, including health and educational institutions.
“This digital infrastructure will bridge the digital divide, support the industry as well as other initiatives in health (telemedicine) and education (virtual learning), amongst other benefits,” Governor Abiodun pointed out.
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Health
On health, Abiodun noted that his administration has invested heavily in health infrastructure and human capital development.
“No fewer than 100 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) have either been rebuilt or newly constructed and adequately equipped, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
“Our target is to have at least a functional primary healthcare centre (PHC) in each of our 236 wards,” the governor said.
Housing
On his administration’s intervention in housing, the governor said the government’s housing programme is the most ambitious in the history of our State.
“Already, over 1,300 units have either been completed or at different stages of completion. The target is about 3,000 units by 2023. I will be commissioning some of them in the coming weeks,” the governor said.
Security
He added that the security architecture in the state had been enhanced by restructuring and reinvigorating Ogun State Security Trust Fund, with new legislation and made it private sector-led, with the view to ensuring security of lives and property of Nigerians.
“Furthermore, in response to some security challenges such as herders/ farmers skirmishes and kidnapping, we set up the Joint Security Intervention Squad (JSIS), a special task force, and deployed additional resources to the trouble spots.
“The State Security Network, Amotekun, has also been inaugurated and activated to complement other security agencies,” the governor stated.
Governor Abiodun promised to continue to deliver on most of his promises to the state and all citizens regardless of faith, political affiliation or ethnic groups.
“We have touched lives of the citizens of Ogun State; we are building the new Ogun State; and, we are institutionalizing a new culture and approach of keeping faith with the people.
“We do not promise to solve all the problems in four years, but we will deliver on whatever promise we make and leave Ogun State better than we met it,” Abiodun submitted.
The governor thanked members of the Executive Council for their service and dedication, the state House of Assembly, development partners, judiciary and the people of Ogun for their trust and commitment to the success story of the Ogun State project.
Zainab Sa’id
