Governor Biodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State has expressed strong disapproval of the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA) over its perceived neglect of the state in developmental projects, despite repeated efforts by his administration to establish meaningful collaboration.
Oyebanji spoke during a meeting with the new leadership of BORBDA, led by its Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Olufemi Adekanmbi, at the Governor’s Office in Ado Ekiti.
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He accused the agency of sidelining Ekiti in its programmes and failing to contribute meaningfully to the state’s development, especially in the agricultural sector.
“Our experience with Benin-Owena has not been encouraging. They have not been fair to us and we have gained nothing from them. Every attempt to work with the authority has been frustrated. This is why we excluded the agency from our strategic development plan,” Oyebanji said.
He, however, acknowledged the renewed commitment expressed by the new BORBDA leadership and urged them to back their words with action.
“I have read your speech and it reflects a desire to change, but we have heard similar promises before that never translated into anything. For projects already budgeted for Ekiti, we are willing to support any genuine effort to fast-track development in the state,” he added.
The governor emphasised the importance of effective collaboration between federal agencies and state governments in achieving sustainable development, pledging his administration’s support if BORBDA demonstrates a clear shift in performance and engagement.
However, Adekanmbi praised the Oyebanji administration for its strides in agriculture and infrastructure and explained that the purpose of the visit was to introduce the new board, assess ongoing collaborations, and chart a fresh course aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in the area of food security.
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Unveiling BORBDA’s new development blueprint, Adekanmbi assured the Governor of a revitalised approach that prioritises agriculture, youth empowerment, and infrastructure development.
He highlighted key ongoing and proposed projects in Ekiti, including flood control works in Ilupeju, Efon-Alaye, Ado-Ureje Road, and Ikere-Ado/Osun Road, as well as dam management projects in Apariko-Aisegba, Oye-Ayede, and Ado-Osin.
