I have constructed over 120 kilometres of roads across Osun — Gov Adeleke

Osun governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, on Wednesday, disclosed that his administration has constructed over 120 kilometers of roads across the state.

‘”For the record, all our projects and programmes, we did not obtain any loan. We only block leakages in the state finance and employ local content to moderate project costs and enforce high standards. We never discriminate on inherited projects and we never sack any contractors engaged by our predecessor. We run an open transparent government,” he said.

The governor, who made these known in a broadcast to mark the second year administration of his administration in office, explained that Several inter-state and intra-city roads completed are to be commissioned during this 16-day anniversary. Two major flyovers are also progressing to completion at Osogbo while works are progressing at the Ile Ife Flyover and Ilesa dualization.

“I have redirected our efforts and plan after Iwo-Osogbo road. We have added the dualisation of Odoori – Adeeke road inside Iwo to be executed in two phases. The first phase will reach Post -Office and Oluwo Palace while the second phase will take off from Post Office to Adeeke Junction.

“Our government has enhanced the local economy, not just through its local content policy, we have also expanded access to financing for artisans and small businesses through the cooperative societies.

“Several millions of naira have been advanced to the state cooperative movement as revolving loans, the first time since the First Republic. We encouraged creation of ward-based artisans cooperative societies across the 332 political wards. Another million naira have been advanced to the 332 business groups as revolving loans. During this anniversary, another set of small businesses will get microcredit cheques. Osun money is truly revolving within Osun State’s economy.

“My people, you are well aware of what Osun was on before we took over two years ago. We all recall the pains and sufferings of the public servants and pensioners. We remember the huge infrastructure and policy deficit in transportation, health, education, water, ICT, environment, agriculture, commerce, and industry. We cannot forget in a hurry the deep gap between the state leadership and the people.

“To revive the state and deliver on good governance, my administration launched out with a five-point agenda. We targeted specific areas of needs of the people which form the major components of the clearly defined agenda. The goal principally was to address the aspirations and immediate needs of our people.

“In line with norms of accountability and responsibility to the electorate, I am obligated to render my stewardship midway into the life of our administration. It is, therefore, with praises to God Almighty and the universe that I address you on major advances our administration has already recorded across the sectors.

“We pursue a preventive health care policy which places emphasis on access to health care. By today, our administration has upgraded 200 primary healthcare centers out of almost 400 with solar power, boreholes, and medical materials. We are now shifting attention to the six general hospitals for upgrade and refurbishing.

“In the same vein, we conducted two major Imole medical outreach with over 100, O00 beneficiaries. The third edition is upcoming, even as we have enrolled 29,000 pensioners in the health insurance scheme to bankroll their Healthcare.

“On water supply, we developed three structure plans of immediate, short, and long-term templates to resolve the acute water shortage inherited in 2022. Immediately, we delivered 332 boreholes across the 332 political wards in the state. Another 332 is ongoing.

“Simultaneously, we commenced the rehabilitation of the waterworks in major towns by relaying the rusted pipes laid in the early 70s. Additionally, the abandoned 10 mini-water works are being revived while the project for the Ora water scheme is also under implementation.

“In the agricultural sector, we started the farm mechanization plan by purchasing 31 tractors in the first phase. Farm inputs were regularly distributed and I am launching the youth agropreneur programme across the 30 local governments and the area councils. We are reviving the farm settlements. We are implementing the new Cocoa and Cashew expansion initiatives.

“For the education sector, the University of Ilesa has become a reality with take-off grants and accredited courses. Rehabilitation of its internal roads is now ongoing. For the Osun State University, four abandoned projects were completed and a new anatomy laboratory was started and completed by our administration. We rehabilitated 99 secondary schools, restarted the upgrade of the six technical colleges, and are about to issue letters of appointment to new teachers.