We'll carry you along in our decision making, Abiodun tells community leaders

By Our Correspondent 

Ogun State Government says leaders of Community Development Councils and Associations will henceforth be involved in decision making, especially on the siting and execution of projects in their various communities.

The state governor, Dapo Abiodun stated on Tuesday in an interactive meeting with leaders of Community Development Councils and Associations in all the 20 Local Government Area in his office at Oke-Mosan Abeokuta.

The governor who intimated the community leaders of what his administration has done in the past three years, said efforts were geared towards providing a secured environment for Investments to thrive, reviving the agriculture and education sectors as well as providing critical infrastructure such as good road network and affordable houses for the people.

"Our mission was to provide a focused government and this was informed by our geographical location. We have borders with the biggest economy in Nigeria and the fifth largest in Africa, and an international border with Benin Republic. We encourage investors to come in and invest in our state and in so doing, create employment opportunities for our youths.

"We also resolved to complete all uncompleted projects that will add economic value to the lives of our people. As I speak, we have constructed at least a road in all the 20 Local Government Areas. We have rehabilitated schools and provided them with furniture so that they can keep bringing out the best quality of education the state is known for", Abiodun stated.

The governor informed that the multimodal transportation system of his administration has been launched with a pilot Bus Transit programme in Abeokuta, the State capital, adding that the reconstruction of major federal roads such as the Ijebu-Ode-Epe, Sagamu -Siun-Abeokuta and Atan-Lusada-Agbara roads, was to ensure that people carry out economic activities without stress.

On plans that will further open up the state for more investments and social activities, Abiodun disclosed that Ogun Light-up Project that would ensure constant power in the state would kick-start in Abeokuta and spread to other parts.

He added that towns such as Mower, Ibafo and Abeokuta will benefit from the urbanisation project that would commence very soon.

Meanwhile, the governor at the meeting, approved the release of grants to Community Development Councils, disclosing that a 7-man Caretaker Transition Committee would be set up to take charge of the Community Development Councils to fast track the passage of the new Law.

He added that his administration would hand over transformers to CDCs and CDAs' chairmen, to be distributed to communities, assuring that the meeting would be held on a regular basis to interface on issues affecting the well-being of the people.

Responding, the Chairman, Community Development Council, Ogun Central, Alhaji Waheed Adekunle, called on the governor to look into the poor state of the Social Development College, Shasha, Ilisan- Remo, with a view to putting it in proper shape, while empowerment programmes should be extended to youth in communities to make them have a sense of belonging.

Adekunle, who appreciated the governor for convening the meeting, said they had waited for such an opportunity.