The Ondo State Government said it has intensified efforts to improve power supply, boost agricultural production and attract industrial investments as part of measures to drive economic growth and improve the standard of living of residents of the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed this while reviewing the achievements of the present administration in the last 18 months.
Adeniyan said the initiatives were anchored on the government’s “Our EASE” agenda of ease of living, ease of doing business and ease of governance, stressing that “the central idea is to put the people first, deliver projects that matter and build a foundation for sustainable growth.”
According to him, the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the state had taken steps to address the power challenges confronting households and businesses through alternative energy initiatives, mass metering and the establishment of a regulatory framework for the electricity sector.
He disclosed that the State Executive Council recently approved a $1.6 million 350-kilowatt hydropower project as well as a 7.5-megawatt gas-fired turbine project to provide power to government facilities across the state.
He added that the government had commenced the distribution of transformers to communities, while the “Light-Up the Lucky Light” solar programme and the O’Datiwa Mass Metering Programme were also being implemented to improve electricity supply and reduce the burden of energy costs on residents and businesses.
“The strategy is to combine regulation, alternative energy, consumer protection and infrastructure development while laying the foundation for state-level electricity generation,” Adeniyan said.
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On agriculture, the CPS said the administration had committed more than N10 billion to the sector, with emphasis on food security, investment, value-chain development and support for farmers.
He said the government was opening up large areas of farmland to attract private investment, while rural roads were being constructed and rehabilitated to facilitate the movement of agricultural produce from farms to markets.
Adeniyan disclosed that more than 500 youths had been trained and empowered in modern agricultural practices, while the administration had inaugurated the Ondo State Cocoa Revolution and Management Board to strengthen the state’s position as Nigeria’s leading cocoa producer.
He said the state had also inaugurated a Strategic Committee on compliance with the European Union Deforestation Regulation, while 14,000 smallholder cocoa and oil palm farmers had been profiled under the FAO GEF-7 programme across eight local government areas.
On industrialisation, Adeniyan said the administration was pursuing major investments in the Ondo Deep Sea Port, refinery, Free Trade Zone and fertiliser plant as part of efforts to transform the state into a major industrial hub.
He said the government’s investment drive had also contributed to the return of the Dangote Group to the state, with plans to establish what he described as Nigeria’s largest industrial zone in Ondo State.
According to him, the state government had signed several memoranda of understanding with investors, including a $50 billion investment agreement involving Backbone Infrastructure Nigeria Limited and Sunshine Infrastructure JV.
He said the proposed investment included a 500,000-barrel-per-day refinery and a 1,471-hectare Free Trade Zone in Ilaje, while another $4 billion petrochemical, fertiliser and cement project was also being pursued.
Adeniyan said the various investments were expected to create jobs, strengthen local production, diversify the state’s revenue base and stimulate economic activities across the state.
“We are not just attracting investments for the sake of it; the objective is to create jobs, support local businesses, diversify government revenue and position Ondo State as a competitive investment destination,” he said.
The CPS said the three sectors were part of the administration’s broader development strategy, which also included road infrastructure, healthcare, education, security and youth and women empowerment.
He added that the administration’s focus remained on implementing projects and policies capable of delivering tangible benefits to residents and laying a foundation for sustainable economic development in Ondo State.