The Ogun State candidate for governor from the All Progressives Congress, Senator Solomon Adeola, has promised to create over 500,000 jobs and train 100,000 young people in digital skills if he becomes governor in the 2027 elections.
Adeola also said he would let local governments in Ogun State work better by following the 2024 Supreme Court ruling on local government independence, which would help fast development in communities.
Yayi, as many call him, shared his plans on Friday during a visit to the Ogun State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists at the Iwe Iroyin Press Centre in Abeokuta.
He said his government would focus on building infrastructure, boosting industries, improving agriculture, healthcare, education, security, and reforming institutions.
The senator, who represents Ogun West Senatorial District, described his plans as a “covenant” with the people. He said journalists should hold him accountable for delivering on these promises.
Adeola said, “I stand before you not as a politician reciting promises, but as a son of Ogun State bringing you a covenant, a plan I intend to be held accountable to, page by page, project by project.
“You are the custodians of public memory. Whether you call me Senator, or one day a Governor, you will be the ones who ask me, in one year, in two years, ‘what happened to that promise you made in Abeokuta?’ That is exactly the relationship I want with this Union.”
He mentioned that his background in public finance and legislative work has prepared him for the role of governor. He noted that he has been chairman of finance and appropriations committees at both the state and federal levels. He currently chairs the Senate Committee on Appropriations.
Outlining his development plans, he said he would start the Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Programme on main routes like Abeokuta, Sango-Ota, and Sagamu.
Adeola also plans to work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to provide commuter rail services connecting Abeokuta to Lagos and linking the state’s industrial areas to the Lagos rail system.
He proposed “OgunRide,” a state-supported platform for public transport, including cars, tricycles, and motorcycles. He said this would offer drivers health insurance, vehicle financing, and support from cooperatives.
He promised to improve internet access, provide affordable housing, and develop new towns along areas with high growth.
The senator said he would set up a Youth Enterprise Hub in Abeokuta within the first six months, with branches in other parts of the state.
On the issue of unemployment, Adeola said, “I will not stand here and recite this as a platitude. One in four of our young people between fifteen and twenty-four is unemployed today. That is a young person in Ilaro, in Ijebu-Ode, in Sagamu, with talent and no door open to them.
“We will train 100,000 young people in digital skills by 2031, and within our first six months in office, launch a Youth Enterprise Hub in Abeokuta with satellite hubs across the state, backed by microcredit for young entrepreneurs, aiming to cut youth unemployment by 40 percent and help create over 500,000 jobs.”
Adeola said he would ensure financial independence for the 20 local government areas in the state, following the 2024 Supreme Court ruling.
He mentioned that funds would go directly to the councils without interference from the state government.
He said, “Government that cannot be felt where people live is not government at all. Itesiwaju Ipinle Ogun must be felt at the local government level, and it begins on day one.”
On sports, he promised to build multi-purpose sports complexes in each senatorial district through partnerships with private investors. He also mentioned grassroots talent centers and the Ogun Youth Sports Academy, promising scholarships and insurance support for athletes.
The APC candidate said agriculture would improve through mechanization, financial support for farmers, climate-friendly farming, and agro-industrial parks.
He suggested a State-Supported Produce Market and processing centers to reduce waste after harvest and connect farmers to larger markets.
On industrialization, Adeola promised to create a Solid Minerals Development Company to handle licenses and joint ventures in mining.
He also said they would include artisanal miners in the formal economy with easier licensing and support from cooperatives.
Adeola highlighted the importance of oil exploration in Ogun Waterside and around Tongeji Island in Ipokia.
He stated that developing these areas could create a “200-kilometre Coastal Energy Corridor,” extending from the state’s border with Benin to Ondo State, with the Olokola Deep Seaport as a long-term maritime access point.
“This is revenue we must prepare for responsibly. It must be governed transparently, and it must visibly rebuild the coastal communities that have waited longest for development,” he said.
He promised to revive the state health insurance scheme, “Ilera D’ero,” aiming to enroll two million residents.
He also pledged to invest in hospitals and primary healthcare facilities while supporting doctors, nurses, and community health workers.
In education, he promised to improve technical and vocational training, recruit and train qualified teachers, and fix classrooms and learning facilities.
On security, Adeola proposed more funding for the Ogun State Security Trust Fund, a Cybersecurity and Security Operations Centre, and a Residents Identity Management Agency.
He said these measures would improve the technology and identification systems that help security efforts in the state.
The APC candidate also promised to restart the Ogun State Waste Management Agency and introduce licensed private waste collectors for door-to-door service.
He suggested waste-to-energy plants, recycling centers, and more street cleaning on major roads as part of the Clean Ogun Initiative.
Adeola said he would also work to end open defecation in the state by 2031 while improving water and sanitation and enforcing building regulations.
The former federal legislator said his government would introduce a Single Window Revenue Collection System to combine taxes and fees across the government.
He said this system would aim for a 40 percent increase in revenue from within the state and a three-to-fivefold rise in land revenue by 2031.
Adeola praised the current administration for the state’s revenue growth from 2021 to 2024.
“That is a genuine achievement, and one the incumbent administration deserves full credit for. My task is not to start from zero, it is to take that momentum and push it further,” he said.
He also promised to reform the justice system, legislation, and civil service, including better training and welfare for government workers.
On state properties, he suggested an audit of underused public assets, industrial parks, and public lands, with responsible commercialization to fund development.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇