•To open two modern GRAs for residents
Oyo State Executive Council has approved the sum of N279.5 million for the production of ballot papers, to be used for forthcoming local government election.
This was disclosed by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun, while briefing journalists on the outcome of the 9th executive council meeting of the state this year.
In a statement by Mr Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Oluseyi Makinde, issued on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, Olatunbosun also stated that the production was directly awarded to Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPMC).
He said that the government did this to show its seriousness and commitment to conducting free and fair local government election.
He said: “The Council approved the production of ballot papers to be used for forthcoming local government election, which is scheduled to hold on May 15, 2021. And the production is directly awarded to Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company.
“We did this to show how serious and transparent we are, and how prepared this administration is towards the forthcoming election. We are giving the contract for the production out to a reputable printing company known for printing of security materials.
“In the past elections in the state, they made use of government printing press, but, this time around, we want a third party to handle this sensitive material, so that nobody will have access to the ballot papers.”
Also, the council approved the construction of a new Oyo State Governor’s Lodge at 2, John Kadiya Close, Abuja, through alternative project funding approach (APFA) at the cost of N1,201.76 billion.
The Commissioner for Public Works and Infrastructure, Prof Kehinde Sangodoyin, who stated this while addressing newsmen on the outcome of the executive council meeting, added that the project would be completed in the next six months.
The commissioner stated further that the buildings would include the Governor’s Lodge, Deputy Governor’s Lodge, some chalets, fittings and some furniture, which, he said, would be of modern type, adding that this was part of what the present administration would leave behind as a legacy.
“The lodge has been there for a while and our government noticed the dilapidated condition.
“The edifice will cost the Government of Oyo State the sum of N1.201,76 billion only. Once the construction has been awarded, the duration for the completion of the project is just six months.
“So, it is believed that six months after the award of the contract, the project will be completed and will have the facilities I have mentioned earlier,” he disclosed.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Abiodun Abdu-Raheem, said that the council approved the construction of two modern Government Reserved Areas for the residents of Oyo State, adding that new GRAs would be well packaged and meet the test of time.
He gave the names of the two GRAs as Late Lere Adigun GRA, which is behind the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), and Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja GRA, situated on Lagos-Ibadan highway.
“Furthermore, we have two GRAs that we have packaged in a way that shows a new narrative that is different from what we are used to.
“You know that the GRAs we have in Ibadan don’t have the infrastructure, but the new ones we are bringing on board are well packaged and can meet the test of time. We have been welcoming applications on these GRAs,” the Commissioner stated.
He also used the medium to explain activities of the ministry and some products available for the benefit of the people of Oyo State.
“This afternoon, we showcased the products of the Ministry in a very symbolic way, and that is why we made a request that all members of the executive, including the governor, should wear our customised shirts, which indicates that we are working for the state.
“We are with the good people of Oyo State, which is a sort of obligation on our part that, within certain period of time, we are going to make some products available for the benefit of the people of Oyo State,” Abdu-Raheem said further.
He added that the ministry was vigorously marketing the payment of Land Use Charge, 60 days C of O and collection of land and property titles.
According to him, “we are using members of executive as point of contact to the people, with regards to our activities. We noticed that before the inception of this government, the trust index has been very low, but we thank God that with the activities of the present government and other laudable programmes the government is coming up with, the trust index has improved and we want to leverage on that to sell our products to the people.”
