Ekiti Residents Share Views on Gov Biodun Oyebanji's Time in Office

When Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji launched his six-point plan called "Roadmap to a Prosperous Ekiti" during his 2022 campaign, many residents had high hopes. They wanted the government to meet their basic needs and improve their lives.

The governor’s plan focused on youth development and job creation, human capital development, agriculture and rural development, infrastructure and industrialization, arts, culture, and tourism, and governance.

Since taking office in October 2022, the Oyebanji-led government has started projects to meet the social and economic needs of residents. These projects include hiring Amotekun officers, renovating the State Secretariat, and providing broadband internet.

In August 2024, Mr Oyebanji opened new road projects in Ado-Ekiti. These projects included the Hospitals Management Board-Doctors Quarters Road, Obisesan/Oke Ala Road, and Jimoh Aliu-Adewunmi Street.

By September 2025, the state government reported spending around N200 billion on road construction. Over 126 kilometers of roads were completed, with more projects ongoing across the state.

In 2025, health workers in Ekiti praised the government’s investment in healthcare infrastructure and services. The government also reported in early 2026 that it had improved primary healthcare centers and increased access to health services. In June 2026, over 1,000 residents received free medical services.

But have his overall actions in the past years matched the promises he made before the last election?

As the governorship election approaches on Saturday, PREMIUM TIMES talked to residents about Mr Oyebanji’s performance against their expectations when he took office.

In different interviews, many residents praised Mr Oyebanji’s government for its work on infrastructure, especially road construction and healthcare. But they also expressed disappointment in other areas of governance since 2022.

Seun Folorunso, a mechatronics engineer, said the government has done well in infrastructure. He pointed out that many roads have been built and repaired in recent years.

"There are many strategic projects, such as the airport, the Ekiti Ring Road, the Ekiti Business District, the Ekiti Knowledge Zone, and many more that have continued to receive attention. They all have long-term economic value," Mr Folorunso said.

He also mentioned the government’s investments in education, healthcare, agriculture, and rural development, saying they met his expectations.

Samson Adeniyi, an entrepreneur, said the current administration is better than the last ones. He highlighted the improvements in road construction in the state capital.

"Now I live in Ado-Ekiti, the capital, and I have seen a number of infrastructure projects, especially roads, completed," Mr Adeniyi said. However, he added that the governor should have extended similar efforts to other areas of the state.

Olowoyo Nafisat, a teacher, praised the governor’s work in agriculture, rural development, and youth empowerment during his early years in office.

"Talking about his promises in Ekiti State, he has really tried because we now have better roads. There have also been positive changes in agriculture and rural development.

"I will rate him seven out of 10. He created empowerment opportunities for some youth, although I never benefited from them," Ms Olowoyo said.

She did express concern about the lack of security in the state. She said insecurity has increased fears among residents in both urban and rural areas.

"Our expectations were mainly on security. I will rate him five per cent out of 100 in that area because there is no solid security in the state generally," she said.

Ms Olowoyo, who also runs a natural drinks business, said life has not improved since the governor took office in October 2022 due to rising prices of goods and services.

"The standard of living in Ekiti is not good. His overall performance is three out of 10 because money does not circulate easily and things are not easy, yet the cost of living is high," she added.

She also expressed disappointment with the government’s performance in job creation, especially for youths, which was part of the governor’s campaign promises.

Meanwhile, in May 2026, the government said it distributed 1,000 laptops to youths to promote digital skills in the state.

Agnes Akinola, a fashion designer, said unemployment is still a major problem for young people in Ekiti, despite the government’s efforts in other areas.

She pointed out that many youths continue to leave the state for bigger cities to find better jobs because the private sector has not created enough opportunities.

"Youth unemployment remains a concern. Many young people still migrate to larger cities in search of better opportunities. Private-sector job creation has not yet reached a transformative scale," she said.

Ms Akinola, a resident of Oke-Ureje, urged the government to focus on job creation through both public and private initiatives while ensuring salaries and pensions are paid on time.

According to her, more investment, better infrastructure, support for agriculture, and improved public services would help create jobs and boost the economy.

Blessing Adepoju, a student at Afe Babalola University in Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), recognized the government’s achievements but questioned its focus on some areas over others.

She complained about the bad road leading to her university, saying the governor should have made it a priority for infrastructure work.

"Our school road, Poly Road, is very bad. They said it has been under construction since May last year, yet it is still not completed. It may be a federal road, but it links the university, a polytechnic, and a hospital," Ms Adepoju said.

She also mentioned the poor power supply in the area, calling it another issue needing government attention.

"They have been promising electricity to part of the student area, Aba, since last December. There is a transformer, but there is no power supply. They said the only thing delaying activation is the switch, but we have remained in the dark since then.

"This is a period when insecurity is rising across the country. Electricity should be available to make the environment safer and more secure. I expect the governor to focus on projects and amenities that make life easier for students across the state.

"I have friends in other parts of the state, including FUOYE in Oye-Ekiti, EKSU in Ado-Ekiti, and BOUESTI in Ikere-Ekiti, and they all complain about similar challenges that make life difficult for students. We are the future, and he should look into these issues," Ms Adepoju said.

Moyinoluwa Tawose, a hair stylist and student at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, praised the government for better roads, improved schools, and health facilities, and youth-focused agricultural programs.

But she shared concerns about unemployment.

"But jobs for youths are still difficult to find, and the cost of living remains high. He has delivered about 60-70 per cent of his promises and made some visible efforts.

"I expected steady leadership, better roads, real jobs through agriculture and infrastructure development, and continuity without unnecessary distractions. I expected him to quietly build on past achievements."

She added that many residents have seen little improvement in their living conditions due to inflation and unemployment.

Emmanuel Omotade, a welder in Oye-Ekiti, said the government started youth empowerment programs and agricultural employment schemes, but they do not meet the needs of the growing population.

"Investments have been made in education, healthcare facilities, teacher development, and primary healthcare revitalization. Salary and pension payments have generally been more stable than in some previous periods.

"However, unemployment and underemployment remain major concerns, and many young people still migrate to larger cities in search of opportunities.

"Job creation, industrialization, and significant economic change have not yet reached the level many residents expected. The state’s economy is still largely driven by civil service activities rather than private-sector growth," Mr Omotade said.

Tolu Adebayo, a gamer and tech expert, expressed worries about rising insecurity in the state. He said security issues could overshadow the governor’s work on infrastructure.

"Many promises on large-scale job creation and industrialization are still lagging and have not been fulfilled. Security concerns and the slow impact of development in rural areas make the work seem only partly done.

"I would give him a 50 to 55 per cent delivery rate. There have been visible gains, but not enough transformative change," he said.

Mr Adebayo added that he hopes for better security and more support for farmers.

"I wanted him to transform Ekiti quickly through agriculture, but the national economic situation made that difficult," Mr Adebayo said.