Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has said that his administration awarded road contracts worth over N200bn to cover 350 kilometres across the state in the last three years.
Recall PUNCH Online on September 5, report that the Ekiti State Government has approved over N12bn for road construction, housing, and agricultural projects. It was noted that the approvals were among the major decisions reached at the State Executive Council meeting held on September 3.
Oyebanji said that was in line with his administration’s vision to upgrade road infrastructure as part of efforts to enhance socioeconomic development.
The governor spoke on Wednesday at the plenary of the five-day meeting of the Standing Committee of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), held at the Cathedral Church of Emmanuel, Ado Ekiti.
No fewer than 100 bishops and other leaders of the church were in attendance at the meeting, with the theme, “The Sanctity of the Church Contending for Christian Faith and Witness in the World”, being presided over by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion), the Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba.
The governor said, “Till date, the state has awarded road contracts exceeding N200 billion, covering 350kms across the state. Out of this, over N150 billion has been paid to contractors, with 126kms completed, while others are still at various stages of completion.
“These roads were carefully selected to connect commercial hubs, large communities, and provide alternatives for commuters.
“We are also constructing over 132 km of rural roads through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project in conjunction with the World Bank,” Oyebanji said.
The governor said that his administration had spent over N118 billion on the payment of gratuities, pensions, leave bonuses, and other regular replenishment of various loan schemes to state and local government retirees in the state since the inception of his administration.
He commended the church for its immense contribution to the social, educational, and healthcare development in the state, describing the Anglican Communion as a partner in progress and a formidable institution that had consistently laid the foundation for Ekiti’s social and economic development.
The governor challenged political leaders and those in high office to see themselves as missionaries called to the service of God to make life better for the people and to elevate the downtrodden.
He said, “As a political leader, I see myself as a missioner of a sort, as I am in the service of God to make life better for our people and to elevate the downtrodden. It is for this reason that I have always centred our policies on the welfare of the ordinary people,” and had stayed faithful to the social contract signed with the Ekiti people and religiously implementing government programmes, projects and policies of great benefit to them.
He highlighted his government’s achievements to include security of lives and properties, youth development, and job creation with employment of over 5,000 youths, provision of stable electricity, renovation and equipping of over 177 health facilities and engagement of over 5,000 youths in agriculture through the Bring Back the Youth into Agriculture scheme, among others.
Earlier in his address, the Primate, the Most Revd Henry Ndukuba, thanked Governor Oyebanji for being an ambassador of Christ in government and commended him for the development strides in the state.
In his welcome address, the Bishop of Ekiti Anglican Diocese, Rt. Revd Andrew Ajayi noted that the event marked a significant moment in the history of the church, as he stressed that the zeal for the gospel, commitment to Anglican orthodoxy, as well as passion for Kingdom service have grown stronger, especially in the drive to ensure an egalitarian Nigeria through the church.
