• Assures investors of support
• Aiyedatiwa assigns portfolios to new commissioners
• Says only excellence’ll be acceptable in governance
Ondo State Government has said that the state is on the verge of signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a firm to construct a 500bpd oil refinery, a free trade zone, as well as other infrastructure projects in the state.
The state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, described the proposed investments as timely and strategic.
Aiyedatiwa, who spoke while receiving leaders of the Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, said that the projects would not only boost the state’s economy but also create meaningful job opportunities and reduce crime.
The governor also lauded the collaboration between the investors and the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), emphasising that he had been receiving encouraging updates and was confident of the project’s success.
He further noted that the initiative would contribute to national development.
However, a board member of the firm, Stephen Dike, who expressed the team’s confidence in the leadership and vision of the Aiyedatiwa-led administration, emphasised that the decision to begin operations in the state was based on the clarity of purpose and support they had received.
Also speaking, the Managing Director of Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, Henry Owonka, reiterated the company’s readiness to begin the implementation of the project.
MEANWHILE, Aiyedatiwa, yesterday, assigned portfolios to the newly inaugurated commissioners, saying that nothing short of excellence will be acceptable from his cabinet members.
In a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, Idowu Ajanaku will head the Information and Orientation Ministry, while Prof. Igbekele Ajibefun will be in charge of the Ministry of Education.
Others include Ayorinde Abiola (Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing), Ayodele Akande (Water Resources and Public Sanitation), Alabi Johnson (Energy and Mineral Resources), Amidu Takuro (Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs), Adewale Akinlosotu (Regional Integration and Diaspora Relations), and Seun Abosede Osamaye (Women Affairs and Social Development).
The rest are Olaolu Akindolire (Budget and Economic Planning), Sunday Olajide (Physical Planning and Urban Development), Omoyofunmi Segun Henry (Youths and Sports Development), Bola Ademuwagun (Commerce, Industry, and Cooperatives), Leye Akinola (Agriculture and Forestry), Banji Awolowo Ajaka (Health), and Adesoji Afolabi (Culture and Tourism).
The governor, while stressing that the expectations of the people are high in anticipation of good governance, urged the sworn-in commissioners to hit the ground running instantly.
According to him, the new appointments were deliberately delayed since February when he assumed office, emphasising that his administration believed in slow and steady governance, as well as prioritising consistency, goal attainment, and sustained progress over haste.
