Lucky Aiyedatiwa has taken the oath of office as the governor of Ondo State.
The swearing-in ceremony took place on Monday at the Ondo State Sports Complex in Akure, the state capital.
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Aiyedatiwa, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, emerged victorious in the Ondo State governorship election held on November 17, 2024.
The governor promised to work with interested investors and development partners to ensure that Port Ondo becomes a reality.
Aiyedatiwa added that his administration would also facilitate investment in exploring the large deposits of bitumen for local use and export, thereby generating substantial revenue for the state.
“This has been the vision and goals of our founding fathers. There is no doubt that this would not be an easy task but we are prepared to frontally confront these challenges and succeed”, he said.
He announced that the state would transition from the REDEEMED AGENDA of the past four years to a new Development Policy Thrust, O’DATIWA O’ DIRORUN, which was his electioneering campaign mantra to the people and literally translates to “OUR EASE.”
The governor added that the seven-point pillar would drive his administration’s development agenda for the next four years, carefully designed to promote sustainable development and enhance the quality of life for the citizens.
“We shall strengthen the capacity of our security agencies, improve intelligence gathering and sharing, enhance community policing and engagement; and address the root causes of crimes.
“The ultimate outcome of this component is to ensure that our security agencies respond timely to security concerns and challenges towards ensuring that our State is safe and secure for all citizens, investors and visitors.
“We will consolidate on our enviable record as one of the safest and most secure States in Nigeria. We shall continue to uphold the Rule of Law and promote an Independent Judiciary and efficient administration of justice in our State. Our courts must remain a beacon of hope and justice for the common man.
Furthermore, he said his administration would improve agricultural productivity, enhance access to markets and credit for farmers, invest in rural infrastructure, and promote the development of the Blue Economy.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration would be intentional about its urban renewal policy in a manner designed to attract more investors.
“There is no better time than now to unlock and explore the abundance of economic opportunities around the sea for the benefit of our people. What we will strive to achieve through this pillar is to transform our State into a major agricultural hub and a leading player in the blue economy, creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
“The blue economy boasts of diverse components, including established traditional ocean industries such as fisheries, tourism, and maritime transport; and also new and emerging activities, such as offshore renewable energy, aquaculture, seabed extractive activities, and marine biotechnology and bioprospecting.
“The Almighty God through providence has blessed us with huge ocean resources, these we shall leverage, for economic growth and improved livelihood for our good people in Ondo State. We shall provide an enabling atmosphere for private citizens and willing investors to promote these marine activities in a sustainable way for the economic prosperity of our dear State”, he said.
