Ogun state executes N200bn Projects, says Olaniyonu

The Ogun Commissioner for Information, Mr Yusuf Olaniyonu, said that N200 billion worth of projects were under construction in the state.

The Commissioner said this in Abeokuta when he met with officials of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ).

According to him, the policy of the government compels construction firms to engage the youths of the state as a condition for getting contracts.

“About N200 billion worth of construction work is going on in this state now. And there is none that has stopped; they are working. All those construction firms, part of the condition when they are taking the job is that apart from the engineering and technical positions that you can bring in your own people, you must engage our own people.

“We don’t expect any Chinese or German or Irish construction firm working on the sites to bring in a welder, a bricklayer,” he said.

According to him, the state has recorded more than 600 artisans who are indigenes working in a Chinese firm that is constructing a road in Otta.

He noted that such kind of policy would enable the indigenes to benefit from the N200 billion projects.

He added that the state was doing a lot in the vocational training by developing the educational curriculum to meet international standards.

He said that the training was to enable the state’s artisans to be well equipped and qualified for the job and be easily absorbed by the employers.

On agriculture, he said that the government plans to establish a farmers’ mart where farmers could take their goods and the government would assist them in selling their products.

He also said the state had two functional cassava processing plants that are being used to add value to the product.

The Commissioner said the value addition was focused on starch-making in view of its high demand by many industries in the state.

“We are starting what we call a framers’ mart and it is going to be a place where when you produce you take it there and government will intervene in making sure that it is converted for cash.

“And government will know whether to preserve or to sell. So, that kind of arrangement is also a way to encourage the farmers.

“Then, with the cassava processing plants what it means is that you do not have to leave cassava tubers to get rotten in your farms. You can actually add value to them through the cassava processing plants,’’ he added.

In his remarks, Mr Christian Widamann, the Head of Programme, German Development Cooperation, commended the government’s efforts at boosting the agricultural sector.

He also commended the level of vocational training and capacity building activities taking place in the state and gave the assurance that the existing partnership would be sustained.