The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi has lauded Governor Ademola Adeleke’s led administration for performing excellently well across all sectors despite facing challenges of paucity of fund and huge debt inherited from the All Progressive Congress, APC led administrations in the state.
The Commissioner, disclosed this during a media press briefing organised on Monday to mark the one year in office the governor and to give account of their achievements within the period.
He said Adeleke has implemented the 5-point agenda he promised during his electioneering campaign, assuring that he would do more in the next three years.
Quoting the Governor according to his anniversary interview, Alimi said, “In the road sector, we reconstructed a total of 90 kilometers of roads with another 45 kilometers ongoing. We completed key intercity roads like the Ikirun-Osogbo road while Iwo-Osogbo is ongoing.
“We completely rehabilitated 31 schools with another 31 in the pipelines.
“We built 332 water projects while major water works at Iwo, Ede, Osogbo, Eko ende are under rehabilitation.
“We focused on the health sector through Imole medical outreach which provides immediate surgeries with over 50 000 beneficiaries so far and also address welfare needs of doctors and we have slated 345 health centers in the state for rehabilitation.
“In science and tech, we introduced a digital economy agenda with new ICT and tech innovations policies. We developed a bill to domesticate the Nigeria Startup Act and launched programmes to deepen internet penetration of the state through broadband fiber optic projects.
“We reformed the public service by ensuring professionalism. I launched a phased payment of inherited pension and half salary debt. I just enrolled all pensioners in the health insurance scheme.
“We reposition the tourism sector into a tourism and cultural industry. A lot of work is ongoing into raising the sector as a major revenue source for Osun state.
Our administration is actively creating an environment for the thriving of creatives. We’ve revitalized key festivals, positioning them as global entertainment opportunities—from the Osun Osogbo Festival to the Sango Festival and the introduction of the Adire Festival. Moreover, Osun State is gearing up to host significant entertainment events.
“The sport sector is undergoing major reform. We are setting up a sports commission and expanding into other games beyond football.
“In agriculture, we are working on the establishment of agric processing zones as well as further support for mechanization of farming in the state.
And of course, we have restored the local government system with elections to hold for a year or so. Grassroot government is now ongoing.
“For the mining sector ,we are recording an increase in revenue generation, accumulated service charges on our licenses have been cleared and we are at the tail end of upgrading our exploration leases to mining leases since it will bring more investors. We are now operating an environmentally friendly operation. EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) and EMP ( Environmental management plan) is now a must before mining operation. Cleaning up the polluted environment is also ongoing. Our mining operation now has zero tolerance for environmental degradation. We have had a long drawn negotiation with mining companies operating in Osun since the beginning of the year.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Mr Governor also launched the infra plan. Implementation is ongoing. Osun people should expect more good governance and democratic dividends.”
He added that with the report that the Governor has delivered on his first year plan in line with their review, he can boldly say that Adeleke has surpassed the targets and expectations of the opposition.
Other members of the cabinet present with Alimi at the Press briefing includes! Spokesperson for the Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed; Commissioner for Water Resources, Sunday Oroniyi; Commissioner for Political Affairs and Intergovernmental Relations, Biyi Odunlade; Commissioner for Home Affairs, Rasheed Aderibigbe; Commissioner for ICT & Digital Economy, Maruf Ayofe; Special Adviser Public Enlightenment, Eniola Odeniyi and Special Adviser Transport, Moshood Yakubu.
