Two years into his administration, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said he would like his administration to be remembered for how well he has improved the lives of the people.
Makinde, who stated that despite obvious challenges, his government has made real progress in developing the state and keeping its promises to the people of the state, explained that his administration has been able to cut down the running cost of government by 50 percent and also reduced government overhead cost by 12.3 per cent, ploughing the gains into capital projects with economic benefits in the future.
Fielding question during a media live programme at the state-owned Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Governor Makinde assured that the state is now in safe hands, using the occasion of the broadcast, as part of activities commemorating his second year in office and the quarterly “Meet the Governor” programme, to state several areas where his administration has changed the narrative for good in the last two years.
Education
He disclosed that over 300 projects in the education sector have been completed, while about 54,000 out-of-school children in the state have been returned to classrooms, saying his administration has been able to raise the bar in the education sector with free, qualitative education policy and the transparent recruitment of 5,000 teachers.
The governor noted: “We have provided a more conducive learning environment for the students and teachers by distributing desks and chairs and improved the curriculum content with the distribution of science equipment in all public secondary schools in Oyo State.”
Health
In the health sector, Governor Makinde stated that several projects inherited by his administration, which were either abandoned or not equipped, have been given facelifts and necessary attention, stating that the ongoing mass renovation of 299 out of 351 Primary Health Care Centres in each ward of the state is also a major achievement of his government in the last two years.
The governor said the administration has been prioritising the needs of the vulnerable by implementing programmes that would ensure total care for all residents of the state from infancy to old age and sponsoring an Executive Bill that protects senior citizens in the state, followed up with establishing a Geriatric Centre at the former Jericho Specialist Hospital building at Jericho, Ibadan.
Governor Seyi Makinde: Two Years in Office Broadcast (May 29, 2021).
Full video https://t.co/nWScYnHE2E
Full text https://t.co/T8qpU22itg pic.twitter.com/qTRAnXpKGw— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) May 29, 2021
He stated: “We are improving and equipping our Secondary Healthcare facilities. Adeoyo Maternity Hospital is gradually returning to its former glory with the procurement of state-of-the-art equipment including High Dependency Units, X-ray machines and CT scan equipment. We have completed the High Dependency wing of the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital. It is now fully equipped and functional.”
The governor said his administration has, in the last year, met the medical and surgical needs of about 250,000 residents of Oyo State through Free Health Mission and is resolved to make it a quarterly activity across all the zones in the State.
Road projects
Makinde, who declared that he would like his government to be known for engineering a modern Oyo State, listed the many road projects either continued by his government after they had been abandoned or started by the government, to open up the state and expand its economy.
Security
Speaking on the government’s efforts in the security sector, the governor said his administration has met the growing challenges and continued to collaborate with federal security agencies, making adequate provisions for them in terms of providing support infrastructures such as operational vehicles, walkie talkies, steel helmets, bulletproof jackets, combat boots and other security equipment.
“A major win for our people in the security sector is operationalising the Western Security Network code-named Amotekun in Oyo State. We recruited 1,500 members of the corps and are continually training them to ensure that their operations follow international standards and best practices,” Makinde stated.
He revealed that his administration launched the State Security Task Force, involving non-state actors in its intelligence-gathering process and has taken steps to secure the entry points into Oyo State by setting up a Joint Security Post at Mamu village, the border community between Ibadan and Ijebu Ode. The post is connected to the expanded Security Control Room and City Watch facilities at the Oyo State Security Trust Fund Headquarters, Onireke, Jericho, Ibadan.
While making projections for the coming year, Makinde restated that several projects initiated by his administration would be completed next year, while looking forward to more targeted and inclusive growth.
He affirmed: “For example, the four bus terminals at Iwo Road, New Ife Road, Ojoo, and Challenge. The Agribusiness Industrial Hubs at Fasola, Akufo and Eruwa will be prioritised. We will construct the Oyo-Iseyin Road, the Saki-Ogbooro-Ighoho Road and the Isaba-Ogundoyin Road in Ibarapa. We aim to complete over 200 kms of roads under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP).”
Makinde asserted that his administration has made the tax system of the state more efficient, kept true to its promise of not increasing taxes but simplified the tax payment system, broadened the tax base to capture the informal sector and also cut down on the state’s external debt by 24 million dollars.
Challenge-Felele-Idi Odo Junction
In a related development, the governor, after the live programme, also commissioned the Challenge-Felele-Idi Odo Junction Improvement Works and Car Park, saying the projects would ease the flow of traffic at the axis and also serve as a catalyst for traffic solutions at Challenge and Felele junctions.
Transporters and visitors can now park their vehicles without hindering traffic. The road has been expanded creating even more space for vehicular movement. We also have three modern bus stops constructed for commuters. pic.twitter.com/QMzPmmB2sr
— Seyi Makinde (@seyiamakinde) May 29, 2021
Zainab Sa’id
