Kehinde Adejumo
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In line with the desire of Governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin  Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN to transform the state’s economy from  being civil service driven to industrialized economy and its unwavering  commitment to the provision of an enabling environment for investors to thrive

The  Secretary to Ondo State government, Honorable, Ifedayo Abegunde while speaking with  Special Focus , has said  that the present administration under Akeredolu led administration has been able to attract  numerous investments into the state to the tune of several billions of naira in less than two years of its administration.

According to him the investments cut across various  sectors of the economy with the possibility of providing numerous job opportunities to the people of the state  due to several Memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed by the government with various organizations. He said the government is working round the clock to see its desires to industrialize the state come  to reality, February this year the government of Ondo State signed MoU with Greenfield Assets Ltd for the establishment and Management of a commercial Scale Poultry Farm and Powdered Eggs Plant project  at Emure_Ile, in Owo Local government Area of Ondo State , at estimated value of 42billion .naira with Ondo State holding 10percent equity stake and a director on board for contributing 150hecters of land  and goodwill to the project, and the Greenfield Assets owns the remaining 90 percent equity sake and four Directors on Board for contributing funding and management to the project

 Also the ODSG signed MoU with CONCASET Nigeria Limited for the establishment and Management of integrated Sugarcane Value chain project, comprising 1100hecters of sugarcane plantation, 50tonnes per day capacity sugar processing Mill and 10000liters of Ethanol Mill at a project estimated value of N3.5 billion, located at Omar village in Ose Local Government area of Ondo State, Ifedayo said ODSG owns a 15percent  equity stake for surveying the land and CONCASET holding 85 percent equity stake for funding the project.

He also explained that this project was to solve unemployment problem among the youth . Saying that this administration has determined to transform the state from what it was known for, as Civil Servants State .

Continues in its determination to make the  state  a hub of  investors, the SSG said , ODSG had also signed MoU with Redcrest Nigeria Limited for the establishment of Mass Rice Production to the tune of  over 37thousand Metric tonnes of rice per annum and a rice mill with the estimated project value of 12 billion naira, the state government  holds 20 percent equity stake for contributing 500 hecters of land near Owena  Dam in Igbara-Oke, in Ifedore Local Government area of the State, while the African Redcrest Ltd is owning 80 percent for providing  technical  assistance, Management and Funding.

He said this administration has attracted investors  within  a short period of time than any administration that had ever governed the state since it was established in 1976. Saying that when all these projects  began full operations ,Ondo State will become a toast of many people in the country.

The government had also signed MoU with a food Processing Company at Jugbere village in Owo LGA of Ondo State at estimated value 43million Dollars with Ondo State owing 25percent equity stake and Adventure Global  Resources Ltd owns, 75percent for providing funds and Management. When this operation started fully, an end  will come to wasting farm produce during   harvest season when there is products gloat , this will   put an end to the farm product that rot away during  harvest season  and also increase the income of the farmers. It will make farmers to have real value for their farm products

He further  disclosed that the MoU  signed  between the ODSG and NNPC on the establishment and operation of cassava to fuel Ethanol project  with the contract sum of N175millon located at Okeluse in Ose LGA  of Ondo State would create over one million job opportunities in the state.

 Also an agreement  had been reached between the government and the ZLGlobal Alliance Resources Ltd, for Integrated Waste management with user charges, the project  cut across the state, comprising waste collection , waste recovery and waste management . Auto assembly plant at Ondo, all estimated value of over seven billion with over 3000 employment opportunities. “since this administration came on board it has been service to the  people, the welfare of the people has been his uttermost priority,” Abegunde said.   He revealed further that N4.6billon is the expected investment from MoU the government signed with AGTHO Merchant  and Company Ltd on the establishment and operation of Fertilizer Blending plant and sack woven, located at Ore in Odigbo LGA of Ondo State.

He said that an agreement was also reached with Air peace Ltd for air transport service, from Akure to Lagos and Overland Airway, to increase Air transport service from Akure  to Abuja from 3_6 days in a week , all with a view to further attract investors into the state. In addition, HESMARK Industry Ltd signed  an agreement with the  state government for the management of industrial  Park value at N15billon  and another  with  PEACEAID project Limited for the revival of the Auga cattle Ranch value at N4billion  and renewable after about ten years.

 He said Akeredolu led administration will leave no stone unturned in order to make life better for the people of the  state and to transform the state from being a civil service driven economy to industrialized economy.

In his continued efforts to industrialize the state, and create jobs for the teeming youths  the Governor signed additional five memoranda of understanding (MoU)  With Bambi Farm limited, Integrated Associate Limited, Premium & Nelsons Limited, Alpha Mead Development company Limited and Kladet services Limited.

The Governor attributed his prioritisation of Industrialization of the state not only to the provision of employment opportunities for the youth but  also  to improve the state’s  Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to sustain the growth and development of the state.

The Governor said his administration  is also committed to the rapid transformation of the state hence, the signing of the MoU.  He said the surest way to industrialize the state is through private investment. He urged the investors to get down to business immediately in other for them to deliver the jobs on time.

Mr Emmanuel Omomowo,  the Secretary, Ondo State promotion Agency, (ONDIPA)  explained  that , Kladet services Limited will see to the management of  statutory revenue collection on Fisheries in the state, while Premium  and Nelsons Limited is saddled with the  responsibility of developing the Reserved Areas (GRA) , areas like the Abo_Asaakin community  Supreme Estate with modern infrastructure OMOMOWO  also said Bambi Farm limited is to oversee  the development, operations and management of oil Palm  Plantation on 1000 hectares of land in Ore Agric business, and Integrated Associate Limited would  develop the Sunshine Housing Estate project of 32.56 hectares of land along Oda road, Akure.

An industrialists, Mr Johnson Adejube commended the state Governor, Arakunrin Akeredolu SAN for  the various  efforts to industrialize the state since  he took over the leadership of the state, saying that it is a right step in the right direction .

He appealed to the government  not  to allow the MoU (s) to end up in signing , but  that both parties should fulfill their  own part to of the  contract. “It not enough to  sign an agreement but the fulfillment of the agreement is what matters, the previous administrations in the state had lots of MoU signed but failed  in  fulfilling the term of the agreement.

“ If there is no breach of the contracts agreement on both parties  in the next four years Ondo State will become an industrialized state unemployment will greatly reduce to the barest minimum  and the state internally generated revenue will increase.

Mrs Adenike Adebisi, a civil servant described the signing of MoU on the new GRA  as a  way of providing  solution to  housing problem that is confronting civil servants in the state. She pleaded with the Governor that  the houses should be made affordable for the masses when the project is completed.

  Mr Adenikinju Daniel , a farmer lauded the administration for its efforts to develop  the state and create employment through agriculture. He said the love of the Governor for agriculture is demonstrated by signing MoU with Bambi Farm to develop Oil Palm production in the state “this is a  veritable way of providing employment for the unemployed youths and at the same time boost revenue generation of the state . He advised the government to monitor the  companies for  timely execution of the projects .