Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has assured Ekiti people that the state will witness rapid improvement on its infrastructure in the New Year with a view to accelerating the state’s economic recovery.

Dr. Fayemi who stated this in his New Year address to the people of the state also disclosed that his administration is making steady, visible and sustainable progress in all areas as the State is now moving “from potential to actualisation.”

The governor who reiterated the resolve of his government to make life more meaningful and comfortable for Ekiti people disclosed that he would flag off the construction of four major roads that are critical to the industrial and agricultural development of the state by mid-January.

The roads according to him are Oye-Ikun-Otun, Aramoko-Erinjiyan-Ikogosi, Agbado-Isinbode-Omuo and Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo roads.

The new road projects are in addition to the on-gong work on the 7.2km new Ado-Iyin road, repairs in Ado township and commencement of the Ado Ekiti ring road, the Ado Ekiti Agro-Airport and repairs of other critical arteries in the State.

Fayemi said the 2020 budget of deliverables is “eloquent testimonies” to his administration’s deliberate and honest quest at providing good road network and improving the enabling environment for business concerns in Ekiti State.

“As a government, we are stepping up our efforts to bridge the huge infrastructural gaps to facilitate industrial development in Ekiti State. As of today, most of the economically viable but hitherto abandoned projects are being brought back to life. I am equally assuring you that all the ongoing and new projects for 2020 will receive adequate attention to ensure delivery within the stipulated time.

“On Monday, January 13, 2020, I shall flag off four major roads that are critical to industrial and agricultural development – Oye-Ikun-Otun, Aramoko-Erinjiyan-Ikogosi, Agbado- Isinbode-Omuo and Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo roads. This is in addition to the on-gong work on the Ado New Iyin Road, repairs in Ado township and commencement of the Ado Ekiti Ring Road, the Ado Ekiti Agro-Airport and repairs of other critical arteries in the state,” he said.

While restating the vision of his government to grow agribusiness, open farm to market access roads, the governor said the state government with the support of the World Bank-assisted RAAMP initiative would, in 2020, embark on the construction of 1,000 km of rural roads to aid and enhance agribusiness in the state.

Fayemi stressed that the government is working on how best to explore the untapped natural resources and maximise the potential through the promotion and sustenance of agribusiness and solid mineral development as the mainstay of our economy.

He added that the administration is on course to lifting Ekiti people out of poverty to the path of prosperity by empowering farmers and entrepreneurs in the agriculture and solid minerals value chain.

“Already, Promasidor Nigeria Limited has effectively taken over Ikun Dairy Farm to enhance the maximization of its full potential in a public private partnership.

“We have also restructured and expanded our rice and cassava programmes through partnership with key private sector players like Dangote Farms, Jumlar Rice Limited and Stallion Rice who are all setting up rice mills in the State in 2020 and a number of cassava mills are also coming up – Promise Point, FMS Farms and Krest Farms are pioneers here. More brownfield and greenfield investments in agribusiness are being planned in palm oil and cocoa sector, and we are sure they will manifest in year 2020,” Fayemi said.

While reviewing the efforts of his administration in 2019, the governor said his government doubled its efforts at redefining good governance by restructuring, strengthening and empowering the public service to function more effectively.

He added that the injection of 3,000 new workers into the public service was not because the income of the State had increased but to ensure efficiency in service delivery.

His words: “The year 2019 was definitely better than the previous year for our public servants. Their salaries were regular and they could plan their lives in a more productive manner. Over 1,000 retired public servants collected their gratuity both in the state and Local Government Service in 2019 as we increased monthly gratuity to N100m from N10m in the previous administration. Our ultimate aim is to ensure that all retirees receive their gratuity shortly after retirement. We started paying the new minimum wage in October 2019 and I promise Ekiti kete that this will extend to all categories of workers beyond grade level 6 as soon as the current negotiation on consequential adjustment is completed.”

On security, Fayemi said the Western Nigeria Security Network known as Amotekun would commence operations in all the six states of the Southwest; adding that the initiative will go a long way in securing the people and protecting the state.

The governor urged community leaders and groups not to allow themselves to be used to spread fake or unsubstantiated news with a view to setting the residents against themselves or destabilising the peace of the state.

He said the people must report any strange signal or incident to the appropriate quarters and resist the temptation to resort to self-help at any time.

•PHOTO: Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi with the newly inaugurated chairmen of the 16 local government councils, during their swearing-in ceremony in Ado-Ekiti....on Tuesday.