Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola has said his administration is working hard to exploit and develop the critical sectors of the economy – agriculture, tourism and mining – to rescue it from overdependence on federal allocation and turn Osun to economic hub of the Southwest.
He said that Osun was blessed with enormous potential buried in its soil, adding that the state government had begun efforts to exploit the resources and translate them to wealth.
The governor spoke at the weekend during a broadcast to mark the third year anniversary of his administration.
He noted that the government’s efforts were yielding positive results, with gold production set to begin soon, just as he declared that the government had maintained fidelity with its electoral promises.
Oyetola said the construction of Olaiya flyover in Osogbo had reached 85 per cent completion and would be inaugurated soon.
The project was launched in February to ease the growing traffic on the axis and reduce accidents.
The governor said the government was rehabilitating roads across the nine federal constituencies to improve road network, open up the rural areas and ease movement of people and their produce to ensure rapid socio-economic development.
He said that the government had sustained the building of major road projects inherited from the last administration, adding:
“We will continue to fund the dualisation of Gbongan-Akoda Dual Carriage Way, as well as the Old Garage (Osogbo)-Ikirun-Ila-Odo-Erinle, which, together, are federal roads spanning 66.8 kilometres.
“We have also rehabilitated and constructed many other roads across the state. Among these roads are: Ada-Igbajo road, Osogbo-Kelebe-Iragbiji road and Akindeko-Awosuru link road via Adejumo Street with Oremeji spur, Akinlade Street, Adewale Street with loop to WAEC road all in Osogbo; Army Barack (Ede)-Ara-Ejigbo township road, Moro-Yakoyo-Ipetumodu-Asipa-Ife/Ibadan Expressway Junction Road and Ereja Roundabout-and Ereguru-Isaare-Oke Oye-Sabo (Irojo)-Ilesa/Akure Expressway Junction.
“Others are Iloro/Aganun/Abiri road, Itaasin (St. Stephen Church)-Our Lady School-Police Divisional Headquarters, Famia Road, Nike Gallery-Ido-Osun Township airport with palace spur, Ikirun-Eko-Ende road and Gbogan Township road to mention but a few. We shall soon complete Eko-Ende road.”
To further enhance easy flow of human traffic, goods and services, and to deliver socio-economic development, Oyetola said the government had started the rehabilitation of roads, including Lawyer Atanda road in Iwo, Ila-Arandun-Kwara Boundary road, as well as the construction of access road to Fountain University, Osogbo.”
He said the government had concluded arrangement to begin work on the construction/rehabilitation of roads in different parts of the state, including Iree, Inisa, Ife, Ijesa land, Osogbo, Olorunda, Irepodun, Orolu, Ikire, Oba Ile and Oba Oke.
“Our quest for rapid infrastructural development has enjoyed significant fillip through the creative adoption of the Alternative Project Funding model to execute projects. Efforts will continue on the rehabilitation of Osogbo-Iwo Road with a view to reconstructing it fully. We shall also be rehabilitating Oyan-Otan road soon. As soon as we have access to more funds, other roads will also be considered,” Oyetola said.
The governor said that his administration was collaborating with the Federal Government to ensure the timely completion of the Ido-Osun airport.
“Thankfully, our collaborative effort, through our Ministry of Works and Transport and the Nigerian Air Force, is yielding positive results towards developing the Ido-Osun Airport corridor. Work has already commenced for the setting up of an Air Force base in our state. Among other things, this base will house a research centre, an Air Force barracks and a hanger.
“The Nigerian Air Force is also establishing the School of Basic and Remedial Studies in our state through its Air Force Institute of Technology. We are indeed grateful to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao, for this kindness,” he said.
In the health sector, Oyetola said his administration had renovated general hospitals and also revitalised over 300 of the 332 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) spread across the state, which he said, are serving the people.
“The remaining ones are at various stages of completion and will be inaugurated very soon,” he added.
“The building of the 120-bed ward at the State Specialist Hospital, Asubiaro, is nearing completion, while that of the 30 units of doctors’ quarters have been completed and will soon be inaugurated. We have instituted the Osun Health Insurance Scheme (OHIS) to deliver affordable health care to our workers while offering free health services to the vulnerable under the scheme,” the governor said.
Reach the right people at the right time with Nationnewslead. Try and advertise any kind of your business to users online today.
Kindly contact us for your advert or publication @ Nationnewslead@gmail.com Call or Whatsapp: 08168544205, 07055577376, 09122592273
