By Dipo Olowookere
Ogun State Governor, Mr Ibikunle Amosun, has assured that 2017 will witness massive rural road construction in the state.
A statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Mr Adejuwon Soyinka, quoted the Governor to have stated this as part of his 2017 New Year message.
“The year 2017 will witness huge rural road construction,” the Governor said.
He added that, “We will take advantage of the opportunities provided by the World Bank through the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP) to ensure easy access to farm produce and mobility of rural dwellers to modern facilities such as pipe borne water, electricity and qualitative health care delivery.”
Mr Amosun explained that one of the goals of his administration, in the New Year, is to make further progress in its Reforestation project.
“We already have two sites at Aworo and Imeko. Apart from the fact that the projects will go a long way in improving the quality of our environment, it will also boost our forestry development plan and promote investment in the Timber industry,” he said.
In the New Year, the Ogun State government is also looking more seriously at agriculture and Agri-business.
“Agriculture will not only ensure food security, but provide huge employment opportunities for our teeming youth. We are exploring an Agro-Politan development strategy, which emphasises the localisation of the entire value chain that Agriculture provides: Grow-Process-Store–Package–Market-Sell.
“This will ensure that millions of our citizens will be engaged in the Agricultural value chain and will be able to prosper wherever they are,” Governor Amosun said.
In another but related dimension, the governor also promised to commence work on the first phase of the state light rail project within the first quarter of 2017.
The first phase of the proposed Ogun Light Rail Network is approximately 102.3km and consists of two lines: Abeokuta (Panseke) – Sagamu Interchange – Sagamu Town (49.8 km) and Ogere Town – Sagamu Interchange – Berger (52.5km).
Governor Amosun is however not stopping at that. He added, “Let me assure our people that preparations have reached an advanced stage for the construction of our international airport. This airport will ease the movement of people, goods and services in and out of Ogun State.”
The Governor also seized the occasion to reassure the good people of Ogun State that his administration will leave no project uncompleted.
“Let me again re-assure you that the commencement of new projects will not in any way affect the completion of on-going projects spread across the three Senatorial districts,” he said.
