The Citizens' Watch

May 19, 2022

Seyi Makinde’s 2021 Bus Terminal Promise Missed as COVID-19 Disruptions Delayed Delivery

Governor Seyi Makinde’s campaign promise that bus terminals at Iwo Road, New Ife Road, Challenge and Ojoo would be commissioned in 2021 was not met on schedule, with delivery slipping into the following year. The four-terminal project was awarded on 5 May 2020 at a cost of N16.9 billion, and Makinde formally flagged off the initiative in 2020 as the start of modern bus terminal construction across Ibadan. While the state eventually commissioned only two terminals—Challenge and Ojoo—on 26 April 2022, that commissioning date placed the project more than a year beyond the 2021 pledge. Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, during the flagging-off ceremony of the Ojoo-Challenge Bus-stop in May, 2020. Makinde later attributed the missed 12-month completion projection to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated supply disruptions, saying the realities of the period “slowed us down” and that government therefore commissioned two of the four terminals in April 2022. On the record available, this is a missed-deadline promise with an external shock explanation, supporting an “against a brick wall” classification: the project moved forward, but the 2021 commissioning target did not hold.

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Feb 18, 2022

Governor Fayemi commissions two blocks of Faculty Building as Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan Ekiti

Source: The SunAt the Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan Ekiti, Dr Fayemi stated that the construction of legacy projects has become his administration's trademark in laying a sustainable foundation for the development of our State adding that he adopted this approach to developing Ekiti State in response to the weak and often non-existent institutions of democracy and good governance inherited from the past Administration.The Governor noted that beyond providing the two structures to address the accommodation challenges of workers and students, the government has also enhanced the environment of the Institution to make it remain a worthy legacy of change in the Institution.According to him, “These magnificent two blocks of Faculty Building was designed to accommodate two (2) Faculties, with Dean's Office, four (4) HODs' Offices, four (4) Laboratories, twelve (12) Classrooms, a Conference Room, a Faculty/Data Room, twenty-eight (28) Offices for Lecturers and Conveniences are fully equipped. You will all agree with me that this was indeed purpose-built.”“We are changing the face of Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan Ekiti because we believe that our people deserve the best and we are not relenting in providing the necessary support needed for its success. That is why we have gone beyond the restoration of infrastructure alone, and commenced from the scratch to laying the foundation for all the institutions that can help develop our State, including but not limited to the Ekiti State Civic and Convention Centre, Ado Ekiti, New Ado-Iyin Dual-Carriage Road among others.”

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Feb 02, 2022

Ekiti acquires 187 solar-powered refrigerators for vaccines storage

Ekiti State has acquired 187 solar-powered cold chain refrigerators for vaccine storage for its primary healthcare centres in the 177 wards of the state. The state governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, who restated the commitment of his administration to further improve healthcare delivery in the state, also set aside N300 million for the State's Basic Health Care Provision Fund.The Governor made this known, on Tuesday, at the commissioning of the Solar Direct Drive Cold Chain equipment at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital Complex, Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.He explained that the Cold Chain equipment was a well-coordinated effort towards achieving temperature-controlled environments to store, manage and transport the lifesaving products (otherwise known as vaccines) which must be continuously stored in limited temperature from the time they are manufactured until the moment of vaccination. Sources: Government of Ekiti State and Nigerian Tribune

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Dec 08, 2021

APC sweeps 35 Ekiti chairmanship seats as PDP kicks

The ruling All Progressives Congress(APC) has swept all the 35 chairmanship seats and 176 out of 177 councillorship seats in Saturday's local government elections in Ekiti State.The council elections took place across the 16 local government areas and 19 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) as well as the 177 wards in the state.The main opposition the People's Democratic Party (PDP) boycotted the election, claiming that the ruling APC is incapable of conducting any free, fair and credible poll.Six political parties that participated are APC, Action Alliance(AA), African Democratic Congress(ADC), Young Progressives Party(YPP), National Rescue Movement(NRM) and the All Progressives Grand Alliance(APGA).Declaring the results, the Chairman of the State Independent Electoral Commission, Justice Jide Aladejana, said the APC won 176 out of the 177 councilorship seats available in the State.Read more : The Nation Online

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Nov 04, 2021

Ekiti Govt Gives Compensation To Farmers Over Acquisition Of Land For Knowledge Zone

Ekiti State Government has compensated another set of landowners whose land was acquired for the Ekiti Knowledge Zone Project.Speaking at the presentation of cheques to the claimants in Ado- Ekiti, the state capital, Governor Kayode Fayemi, represented by his Chief of Staff, Biodun Omoleye, explained that his administration will not trample on the rights of any citizen, adding that the compensation being paid was in line with the government's commitment to the welfare of the people.The governor explained that the Ekiti knowledge zone is part of the five-point agenda of making the state a knowledge economic base for the benefit of the Ekiti people.He recalled that the government, had last year, paid compensation to some farmers whose crops were affected by the ongoing development in the knowledge zone with a promise that other claimants would equally be compensated."We are here today to put a smile on the faces of other claimants of the acquired land," he said.The governor commended the communities, families and individuals whose lands were acquired for the project for their exceptional contributions and understanding to the resolution of knotty issues on the land acquisition.Read More: Nigerian Tribune

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Nov 04, 2021

Images from the flag-off of the Knowledge Zone

" It was a delight to flag-off the construction of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone (EKZ) along Ijan-Ekiti road. EKZ is designed to take advantage of technology for scientific research, industrialisation, and innovative services, as well as attract business process outsourcing companies and the back office teams of large tech companies.I am pleased to share that we recently received $250,000 funding from the African Development Bank to prepare a full feasibility study for the Knowledge Zone. We should announce an anchor investor and partner for the project before the end of this year.From my first administration till date, a knowledge-based economy has remained a strategic part of our agenda in our continued bid to develop and prepare Ekiti State for the inevitable technologically driven future" - Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

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Nov 04, 2021

Fayemi Flags-off Ekiti Knowledge Zone

Photo Source: Ekiti State GovernmentEkiti state Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi on Thursday flagged-off the development of the Ekiti Knowledge Zone Project in furtherance of the administration's plan to build a modern and technologically viable state.Performing the turning of the Sod of the 1,000 Hectares project site in company of the Chairman of China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Mr Michael Jiang, Dr Fayemi stated that the project would add value the state and urged the people to demonstrate commitment to using their brilliant minds to promote sustainable development.The Governor said Ekiti was set to follow in the path of China that developed its economy through knowledge production and innovation.The Governor revealed that the knowledge zone would include Knowledge Park, agri-business Park, technology hub, the outsourcing vehicle and the light industry that would feed many of the research and development ideas coming out of the zone.Read more: Worldstagenews.com

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Nov 04, 2021

Photos: Remodelled Adamasingba Stadium

Source: Dayo Adedayo Photography

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Nov 04, 2021

Let's set the records straight- Gov. Seyi Makinde

There has been so much happening in politics and governance in the past two weeks. For example, there have been debates about VAT. These debates again bring to the fore the importance of states taking decisions that will increase their internally generated revenue and attract investors. That is why here in Oyo State, we are always thinking "economy first'. One year ago, when we flagged off the remodelling of the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, we were in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like forward-thinking leaders, we were particular about the timing of our decisions. While many concentrated on the short-term goal of converting their existing stadiums to isolation centres, we built and positioned ourselves to reap the benefits of sports tourism post-pandemic.With Phase 1 of this project, we have completely remodelled the main bowl of the complex. It now contains FIFA standard facilities such as four changing rooms, a studio, media centre, mixed zone and of course floodlights. I can boldly say that with the facilities we have here, we are ready to host any national, regional or international competition!So, to all anywhere in the world who need FIFA standard facilities for their events, we say â€œcomeâ€. Oyo State is ready to receive you. We are open for business.But let me address some genuine concerns. Some people have asked why we didn't wait out the rainy season before hosting the event. They have said our haste to unveil an 'uncompleted stadium' blighted an otherwise outstanding achievement. I have also seen those who have been spreading malicious lies about the work we did. They have shared pictures of the Sheffield Wednesday flooded stadium and presented it as the newly unveiled Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba main bowl. So, let's set the records straight by addressing these malicious lies. A logical mind would quickly deduce that if people resort to lies and misinformation, their case doesn't hold water. So, when you meet any of them, ask them: "If you really believe the Lekan Salami Sports Complex was poorly done, why are you sharing fake pictures?" Is it not a mark of serious mischief that a group of people would lie about something that was watched live by millions of people on international and local television? If they can lie about something so obvious, what else could they possibly lie about?Next, let me talk about the timing of the game. Some people have asked why we didn't wait till December to unveil the main bowl along with the rest of the sports complex. There are a few reasons for this. To start with, we wanted to unveil the main bowl with an international friendly. Anyone who follows international football will tell you that there are seven windows for these matches. None of these windows falls in December and January. If we had waited, we would have to wait until February 2022 or later. Secondly, and this is a more personal reason, when we watched the Shooting Stars game just three days before my birthday in 2019, the picture of the players on the floor stayed with me. The players I saw on the floor that day were a far cry from the club I had gone to watch at Adamasingba as a child. I had promised during my campaigns to bring back the glory I knew they had without even knowing how terrible things were. And after that day, I was determined not to let even one unnecessary day pass by without keeping that promise. So, yes, I was determined to make sure they didn't have to manage anymore. Also, I knew the players would face playoffs to ensure that they are restored to the NPFL this September after suffering relegation in 2017. I knew what a boost playing in this stadium would give them. And so, even though the rest of the sporting complex is still being constructed as part of phase 2, we ensured the main bowl, which we unveiled, was ready for use.Contrary to what some have said, this is not about politics. If it were, we would have waited until December or February 2022, when the entire complex (Phase 1 and 2) would be ready so that we could make a louder noise. It was about putting the players first, and it was about not letting people suffer "just for three months" so that we could make a bigger political statement.For the avoidance of doubt, there is nothing wrong with the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba. The stadium withstood four hours of torrential rains without getting flooded. The match went on, and our darling 3SC beat the visiting team by four goals to nil. The pride on the players' faces at the end of that match was worth whatever "political loss" anyone thinks this decision cost us. If we had a chance to do this again, we would make the same decisions.I am going to leave you with these thoughts today. For those who will eventually get into politics: Whenever you are forced to choose between political expediency and humanity, always choose humanity. Source: Seyi Makinde Newsletter

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Project Activities

Seyi Makinde’s 2021 Bus Terminal Promise Missed as COVID-19 Disruptions Delayed Delivery

Governor Fayemi commissions two blocks of Faculty Building as Ekiti State Polytechnic, Isan Ekiti

Ekiti acquires 187 solar-powered refrigerators for vaccines storage

APC sweeps 35 Ekiti chairmanship seats as PDP kicks

Ekiti Govt Gives Compensation To Farmers Over Acquisition Of Land For Knowledge Zone

Images from the flag-off of the Knowledge Zone

Fayemi Flags-off Ekiti Knowledge Zone

Photos: Remodelled Adamasingba Stadium

Let's set the records straight- Gov. Seyi Makinde

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