Ondo State Governor has disbursed a total of N37 billion to the State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) within the last five years for its developmental programmes in the riverine area.

This has led to the achievements recorded by the agency including the establishment of Adagbakuja New Town, connection of Ilaje Local Government Area of the state to the National Grid and the construction of the Igbokoda-Aiyetoro Olokola Road.

Noting that government-run industries usually failed, the state government decided to mid-wife, promote partnership and acquire minority shares in companies run mainly by private enterprises.

The state government earmarked over N12billion for investment in industries such as Omotosho Power Plant; Oluwa Industrial Estate; Investment in Oil Blocks; Rice Project; OKLNG, OK Free Trade Zone and Alpha 3-D among others.

ALSO,
Ondo State Government will soon link up all ilaje communities in the riverine area of the state with bridges and roads to enhance the development of the area it has been disclosed.
Chief Adewale Omojuwa, chair, ondo State Oil Producing Development Commission (OSOPADEC), made the disclosure while addressing a stakeholder’s forum at Zion – Pepe in Ilaje Local Government.
Omojuwa told the gathering that Alape Bridge which links Araromi with Zion would be completed before December this year.
He described Alape Bridge which is 560 metres long as the longest bridge in the area adding that the Araromi Road project would be flagged – off in September.
The Chairman said that his commission through the help and support of the Ondo State Government had been taking care of youths and would provide employment for them.

The Chairman enjoined the Ilaje people to co-operate with the Dr. Olusegun Agagu led administration by fighting against acts kidnapping which he said was alien in ilaje land.
Responding, the Aruwajoye of Mahin Kingdom, Chief Moses Elebiju who lauded the efforts of OSOPADEC said what other Governors in the past said was impossibles, had been made possible by the Dr. Agagu – led Government adding that the Ilaje people were in support of the governor.

SIMILARLY,
Governor Olusegun Agagu of Ondo State formally flagged-off construction work on the new ultra-modern sports stadium in the state capital.

The governor, who performed the ceremony at the stadium site in Akure, said the arena would be ready within 18 months.

The stadium project was awarded at a cost of three billion, six hundred and seventy two million naira.

Speaking at the ceremony, the governor said: “The main bowl will be completed with a 10,000 capacity sitting terraces, all covered.

“Provisions are made for adequate car park, training pitch, shopping arena, medical centre, press gallery and an ICT centre for ease of communication.”

Other facilities, according to the governor include, “tartan tracks of 10 lanes, flood lights, electronic score board, a befitting state box with VIP extensions, modern office accommodation and a host of ancillary facilities.”

Agagu said the contractor got the job after a thorough and careful selection process of the 17 companies that indicated interest. He thus expressed the hope that the company would live up to their reputation in the handling of the project.

“The contract for this project was awarded at the sum of three billion, six hundred and seventy-two million naira, and in line with our usual practice, the contractors will be paid substantial part of the contract sum as mobilisation.