October 23, (THEWILL) -Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State says no part of the state has been sidelined for developmental projects that will be embarked upon by his administration in the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and the 2025 Budget.
He said that projects were evenly distributed to the three Senatorial Districts in accordance with the 2024 budget.
Abiodun disclosed this during the town hall meeting on the 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2025 Budget, which was held at the Bisi Rodipe Event Centre, Ijebu-Ode.
He lauded all stakeholders for their inputs during consultations towards putting together the 2024 budget, saying that his administration had approved the reconstruction of some major roads in the Ogun East Senatorial District.
The roads include Imoro-Imegun-Opopo Road, Igbeba-Eid praying ground to Prison Road, Imoru Road in Ijebu-Ode and the Odelewu-Ladeshi-Ishiwo Road.
The governor, who was represented by the Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Dapo Okubadejo, noted that despite the fiscal pressures on its resources, his administration has also commenced the construction of over 64 kilometres of rural roads across the state.
He said that the construction of the rural roads marked pivotal steps in his administration’s ongoing commitment towards expanding infrastructural development for easy rural accessibility and boosting agricultural productivity in the state.
“In continuation of our infrastructural development, our administration recently approved the reconstruction of the Imoro-Imegun-Opopo Road in Ijebu-North-East, Igbeba Road to Eid praying ground to Prison, Imoru Road in Ijebu-Ode and Odelewu-Ladeshi-Ishiwo Road.
“Despite the fiscal pressures and increased government spending, infrastructural investments to promote rural development and the economy have equally gained attention.
“Our administration is constructing 64 kilometres of rural roads in select local government areas in the state, including within the Ijebu division”, he said.
Abiodun also disclosed that his administration, in collaboration with the Lagos and Oyo State Governments, has procured an additional 25 patrol vans and surveillance drones to monitor activities along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.
He divulged that the construction and imminent completion of the Gateway International Agro-cargo Airport would position the state as the major logistics hub in the sub-region while taking advantage of the Africa Quality Assurance Centre developed by the Africa Export-Import Bank.
The governor said that his administration has constructed over 600 kilometres of road across the state, with 243.3 kilometres completed in the Ogun East Senatorial District.
He listed some of the completed roads including Chris-Ogunbajo-Erunwon Road, Palace Road, Ijebu-Itele, Club Road, Balogun Kuku Road, Ijebu-Ode and the reconstruction of internal roads within Olabisi Onabanjo University, adding that work has also commenced on the double self-culvert on Alaran River, Isiwo, Ijebu-Ode, Liberty road, Oru, and the Awokoya road in Ijebu-Ode.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, disclosed that 377 inputs were received during the last town hall meetings held in 2023, adding that 90%, which represents 340 inputs, were included in the budget, even as he pledged that the remaining 40 inputs would be included in the 2025 budget and the MTEF.
