By Lola Badejo
The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has promised to give equal attention to all the three Senatorial Districts in project execution and provision of basic amenities.
The Governor, who spoke at the Virtual Town Consultative Meeting on 2020-2021 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2021 Budget for Ogun Central Senatorial District held at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, also pledged to accord Abeokuta the deserved attention as the Capital City of the State.
"It is also one of our promises that any inherited project that has a clear line of sight to the development of our dear State will not be abandoned. In fact, those that could no longer be used for their intended purposes have been converted to the advantage of our dear State. An example is the conversion of the previously abandoned Model School on Kobape Road into the Ogun TechHUB.
"As a matter of fact, since inception of our Administration on May, 2019, we have continued as a matter of policy to embark on projects that have positive impact on the lives of our people. In doing this, we are deliberate and calculated in our approach to inclusive and good governance to ensure that meaningful and positive projects are initiated across the three Senatorial Districts of our dear State," the Governor noted.
Prince Abiodun, while reeling out some of the projects carried out so far in the areas of road, housing, agriculture, education, health and youth empowerment among others, added that it was the demonstration of government sincerity and commitment to good governance to the people, while assuring a wholesome approach to infrastructural development in all sectors of the State’s economy.
He listed some completed and ongoing projects in the District to include Kuto Bridge and its surroundings to Simeon Adebo Library, Lafenwa-Rounda/Olohunda Ayetoro Road, Panseke-Adigbe Road, Brewery-Olomore-Ita-Oshin Road, while government has constructed 130 houses units at Prince Court Phase I, 300 units at Kemta-Idi Aba, Prince Court Phase II, 300-unit Housing Project ongoing at Kobape Housing Estate and another 23-unit project at Laderin Workers Estate for Civil Servants and many more within the last 17 months of the present Administration.
The Governor observed that from contributions and suggestions from other districts, good roads were one of the critical needs of the people, assuring that his Administration would think out of the box and devise innovative ways of fixing the roads.
While encouraging the people of the zone to come up with practical suggestions and ideas that help government to deliver dividends of democracy, the Governor disclosed that the town hall meeting should be held twice a year to enable government get feedback on what affects them.
The Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan while soliciting the people's support in moving the State forward, said the meeting was to reach out to the citizens and get the inputs towards arriving at a people-oriented budget.
Contributing, the Osile of Oke-Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso called for the completion of uncompleted road projects and rehabilitation of inner roads in the District, particularly in Abeokuta.
Chief Yomi Majekodunmi calling for the setting up of a logistics hub in the Senatorial District, advised government to leverage on diaspora funding and work with realistic budget.
Mr. Kehinde Sogunle of the Egbaland Economic Submit, suggested the involvement of community leaders in project execution for sustainability as well as adequate funding for the Ogun TechHUB to serve as a centre of excellence in Information and Communication Technology, ICT development in the Country.
On their part, Chief Sina Luwoye and Senator Gbenga Obadara stressed the need for the creation of a compedium that captures tax payment in the State, while capital expenditure should be more than recurrent to accelerate development.
Other speakers at the meeting include; Semiu Lawal, Transition Committee Chairman, Odeda Local Government Area, who spoke on behalf of all Transition Chairmen in the State; Engr. Adekunle Mokuolu, former President, Nigeria Society of Engineers; Rev. (Dr) Wale Owoniyi, President, Baptist Conference, who represented the Christian Association Nigeria; and Sheik Iskeel Sugar, who represented the League of Imams and Alfas in the State.
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