The Ondo State Government has said that it is making deliberate efforts to expand its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base as part of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s vision to transform the state into an industrial hub.
The state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Hon. Idowu Ajanaku, stated this in an interactive session with political journalists in Lagos, noting that the state generated ₦28.1 billion in the first quarter of 2025, a clear sign that its economic reforms are yielding results.
According to him, the administration has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a refinery with the capacity to produce 500,000 barrels of oil per day, while BUA Cement has concluded plans to set up operations in Okeluse to utilise the state’s vast limestone deposits. He said these strategic partnerships will stimulate job creation, drive industrialisation, and further increase revenue inflow.
Ajanaku explained that Governor Aiyedatiwa is driving development through the OUR EASE Agenda, a seven-point blueprint anchored on Order and Security, Urban and Rural Development, Revolutionary Technology and Industrialisation, Efficient Healthcare, Adequate Power and Energy, Sustainable Infrastructure and Tourism, and Education with Human Capital Development.
He stressed that the governor is determined to reposition Ondo beyond being a civil service state. “Dr. Aiyedatiwa is poised to change the narrative and put Ondo State on the map as a leading industrial hub. His background as a businessman gives him the edge to attract investors and grow our economy,” Ajanaku said.
On infrastructure, the Commissioner highlighted ongoing road projects across the three senatorial districts, including the near-completion of the Irese overhead bridge in Akure, the dualisation of Akungba–Ikare road, and the Ilaje–Ibeju Lekki coastal road being executed in partnership with the NDDC. He added that about 60km of Araromi beach roads are also under construction.
He revealed that the World Bank-assisted Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP), supported by the state’s ₦4 billion counterpart funding, is opening up rural communities for agricultural and commercial activities. “Across the 203 wards of the state, there is one project or the other going on,” he said.
On security, Ajanaku said Governor Aiyedatiwa is committed to ensuring a peaceful environment for businesses to thrive. He noted that the Amotekun Corps, which has been recognized by the United Nations as a model for community policing, recently received 50 operational vehicles from the government to enhance its capacity.
He also dismissed rumours of a rift between Governor Aiyedatiwa and his deputy, Olayide Adelami, describing them as “the handiwork of detractors.” He said the duo remain united in their commitment to deliver dividends of democracy.
Looking ahead, the Commissioner assured that by February 2026, when Ondo State will mark its 50th anniversary, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would be invited to commission landmark projects, underscoring the governor’s determination to leave lasting legacies in industrialisation, infrastructure, and revenue growth.
