The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has unveiled a nine-point development agenda for the state, with promises to establish new towns, introduce commuter rail services, create jobs, and expand infrastructure if elected governor in 2027.
Adeola unveiled the agenda, tagged “ITESIWAJU,” during a courtesy and familiarization visit to the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists at the Iwe Iroyin Press Centre, Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
He said the blueprint, which he described as the product of two years of work, was designed to address challenges in infrastructure, employment, security, education, healthcare, agriculture, and industrialization.
The APC candidate said the agenda was anchored on nine pillars: infrastructure; tourism and culture; education and human capital development; security and law enforcement; inclusive health and well-being; women’s affairs, poverty alleviation, and youth development; agricultural transformation and food security; job creation and industrialization; and urban environment and physical development.
He stated that the programme would be supported by institutional reforms in fiscal discipline and revenue mobilization, legislative reform, civil service and justice reform, asset optimization and commercialization, as well as local government autonomy.
On transportation, Adeola promised to establish an Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Programme covering major routes, including Abeokuta, Ota, Sagamu, and Ijebu, with organized terminals and improved intercity connectivity.
He also pledged to work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to introduce commuter rail services linking Abeokuta with Lagos and to connect the state’s industrial corridor to the Lagos rail network.
Adeola further proposed an “Ogun Ride” mobility platform for cars, tricycles, and motorcycles, which he said would provide operators with access to health insurance, vehicle financing, and cooperative schemes.
He said his administration would pursue affordable housing and establish new town development areas, particularly around border communities and rapidly developing corridors.
According to him, the planned expansion would reduce pressure on existing urban centres while providing residents with planned communities equipped with infrastructure and basic services.
Adeola said, “I want to have a resemblance of what I see in VGC in Ogun State. I want to have a resemblance of what I see in Lekki in Ogun State. I want to see it. I want to be discouraged from going to Lagos to sleep. I want to sleep in Ogun State 24/7.”
On employment, the senator promised stronger partnerships with industries operating in the state to ensure that qualified indigenes benefit from job opportunities created by businesses.
He also pledged greater attention to the mining sector, saying his administration would pursue opportunities in the industry and ensure that Ogun derives more benefits from its mineral resources.
“I will be the Chief Miner of this state. I will fight for every mining certificate in this state,” he said.
Adeola said tourism, culture, and the creative economy would also receive attention, citing Abeokuta’s historical heritage, the Ojude Oba Festival, Ogun Waterside’s coastal heritage, Adire, film, fashion, and music as areas with employment and revenue potential.
He commended the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun for its investment in tourism, particularly the renovation and development of Olumo Rock.
On environmental management, the APC candidate promised to tackle the proliferation of shanties and poorly planned settlements along the Lagos-Ogun boundary while improving the cleanliness and physical planning of the state.
He also described border communities as strategic areas that could support housing, economic activities, and revenue generation.
Adeola said the maintenance of public infrastructure would be a major priority of his administration, stressing that completed projects must be properly maintained.
He said agencies such as the Ogun State Public Works Bureau and relevant environmental agencies would be expected to ensure the continuous maintenance of roads and public facilities.
On sports development, Adeola described the sector as a tool for youth empowerment and economic growth.
He promised to support Gateway Football Club and other sporting activities while encouraging industries operating in the state to participate through corporate social responsibility and sponsorship.
The APC candidate also promised to reform the state-owned media organisations, Ogun State Television and Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, with the aim of repositioning them to compete with leading private television and radio stations.
He further pledged to strengthen local government administration, promising what he described as local government autonomy in the real sense of it.
Using Lagos State as an example, Adeola said local governments should be able to undertake development projects, with the state government providing complementary funding and supervision.
On his relationship with the media, the APC candidate pledged to comply with the Freedom of Information Act and hold regular, substantive press briefings if elected.
He promised to regard journalists as partners in governance and give attention to their welfare and safety.
“A government that fears scrutiny has already told you what it intends to hide, and that will not be my administration,” he said.
Adeola also commended the current administration for its infrastructure projects, saying no government could complete all infrastructure projects within one or two terms.
He promised continuity while addressing what he described as outstanding gaps in transportation, housing, rail, water transportation, and other sectors.
The senator also identified proposed developments, including a deep-sea port, a planned dairy investment in Yewa, furniture manufacturing, and oil exploration activities around Ipokia and Tongeji Island, as projects with potential economic implications for the state.
He said the developments could further expand Ogun’s industrial and commercial activities.
Adeola urged journalists to hold him accountable to the promises contained in his manifesto if elected governor.
“I do not come to you asking you to believe me. I come asking you to hold me to this manifesto line by line, project by project,” he said.
He added that measurable targets would be attached to the programmes, with implementation reports made public.
“A manifesto that stays on paper is a betrayal of the people who trusted it,” Adeola said.