…Sets to flag off Construction of Four major roads, Ado Ekiti ring road
Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has said that the State will
witness rapid improvement on its infrastructure with a view to
accelerating the State’s economic recovery.
Dr Fayemi who said this during his new year address also disclosed
that his administration is making steady, visible and sustainable
progress in all areas as the State is now moving “from potentials to
actualization”.
The governor who reiterated the resolve of his government to make life
more meaningful and comfortable for Ekiti people disclosed that he
would flag off the construction of four major roads that are critical
to the industrial and agricultural development of the State before the
middle of January.
The roads according to him are Oye-Ikun-Otun, Aramoko-Erinjiyan –
Ikogosi, Agbado – Isinbode-Omuo and Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo roads.
The new road projects are in addition to the on-going work on the
7.2km new Ado-Iyin road, repairs in Ado Township and commencement of
the Ado Ekiti Ring Road, the Ado Ekiti Agro-Airport and repairs of
other critical arteries in the State.
Fayemi said the 2020 budget of deliverables is “eloquent testimonies”
to his administration’s deliberate and honest quest at providing good
road network and improving the enabling environment for business
concerns in Ekiti State.
“As a government, we are stepping up our efforts to bridge the huge
infrastructural gaps to facilitate industrial development in Ekiti
State. As of today, most of the economically viable but hitherto
abandoned projects are being brought back to life. I am equally
assuring you that all the ongoing and new projects for 2020 will
receive adequate attention to ensure delivery within the stipulated
time.”
“On Monday, January 13, 2020, I shall flag off four major roads that
are critical to industrial + agricultural development – Oye-Ikun-Otun,
Aramoko-Erinjiyan – Ikogosi, Agbado – Isinbode-Omuo and
Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo roads. This is in addition to the on-gong work on
the Ado New Iyin Road, repairs in Ado township and commencement of the
Ado Ekiti Ring Road, the Ado Ekiti Agro-Airport and repairs of other
critical arteries in the State”, he said.
While restating the vision of his government to grow agribusiness,
open farm to market access roads, the governor said the state
government with the support of the World Bank-assisted RAAMP
initiative would, in 2020, embark on the construction of 1,000 km of
rural roads to aid and enhance agribusiness in the State.
Fayemi stressed that the government is working on how best to explore
the untapped natural resources and maximize the potential through the
promotion and sustenance of agribusiness and solid mineral development
as the mainstay of our economy.
He added that the administration is on course to lifting Ekiti people
out of poverty to the path of prosperity by empowering farmers and
entrepreneurs in the agriculture and solid minerals value chain.
“Already, Promasidor Nigeria Limited has effectively taken over Ikun
Dairy Farm to enhance the maximization of its full potential in a
public private partnership. We have also restructured and expanded our
rice and cassava programmes through partnership with key private
sector players like Dangote Farms, Jumlar Rice Limited and Stallion
Rice who are all setting up rice mills in the State in 2020 and a
number of cassava mills are also coming up – Promise Point, FMS Farms
and Krest Farms are pioneers here. More brownfield and greenfield
investments in agribusiness are being planned in palm oil and cocoa
sector, and we are sure they will manifest in year 2020”, Fayemi said.
While reviewing the efforts of his administration in 2019, the
governor said his government doubled its efforts at redefining good
governance by restructuring, strengthening and empowering the public
service to function more effectively.
He added that the injection of 3000 new workers into the public
service was not because the income of the State had increased but to
ensure efficiency in service delivery.
His words: “The year 2019 was definitely better than the previous year
for our public servants. Their salaries were regular and they could
plan their lives in a more productive manner. Over 1000 retired public
servants collected their gratuity both in the State and Local
Government Service in 2019 as we increased monthly Gratuity to #100m
from #10m in the previous administration. Our ultimate aim is to
ensure that all retirees receive their gratuity shortly after
retirement. We started paying the new minimum wage in October 2019 and
I promise Ekiti kete that this will extend to all categories of
workers beyond grade level 6 as soon as the current negotiation on
consequential adjustment is completed.”
On security, Fayemi said the Western Nigeria Security Network known as
Amotekun would commence operations in all the six States of the
Southwest Nigeria; adding that the initiative will go a long way in
securing the people and protecting the State.
The governor urged community leaders or groups not to allow themselves
to be used to spread fake or unsubstantiated news with a view to
setting the residents against themselves or destabilizing the peace of
the state.
He said the people must report any strange signal or incident to the
appropriate quarters and resist the temptation to resort to self-help
at any time.