Ogun to establish state-owned newspaper

By Abiodun Lawal

Mr Waheed Odusile, Commissioner for Information and Strategy in Ogun state, has announced the plans of the state government to establish a newspaper and an online news platform.

This, he said, will inform and mobilise the citizens for government policies and programmes.

Odusile made the disclosure on Monday while defending the ministry’s 2021 proposed budget before the House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation in Abeokuta.

He said that the ministry would leverage partnership initiatives with the media and allied sector to further propagate the various development projects and other activities of the government to the people.

The commissioner stressed the importance of effective information management system in a democratic setting.

According to him, information management often prompted informed decision on the part of the residents.

Presenting the budget for 2021, Odusile said that total expenditure was put at N600million,  with N500million set aside for recurrent expenditure and N99.9million earmarked for capital projects.

The General Manager, Ogun State Television (OGTV), Mr Festus Kehinde, presenting the budget for the agency, said it had budgeted N255million for the purchase of Outside Broadcasting Van with digital satellite newsgathering.