FMARD inaugurates solar street lights, other projects in Ondo

The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD) has inaugurated solar street lights and other projects in selected communities in Ondo State.

The projects include 20 units solar powered street light at road D4, Aule, Akure; and 9 units of solar powered street light at Edo Lodge area of Oke-Ijebu, Akure.

Others are upgrading of the Agricultural Mechanics and Machinery Operators Training Centre (AMMOTRAC) at Ilado-Odudu on Ado road, Akure; and a 0.5 kilometer asphalt road at Ona Ofe in Oke-Ijebu, Akure.

Mr Tony Otuonye, FMARD State Coordinator, while inaugurating the projects on Wednesday, said they would impact on the livelihood of the people.

Otuonye noted that the solar powered street lights would enhance movement at nights and improve on the security of the communities.

The Head of AMMOTRAC, Mr Richard Aguda, commended the ministry for the gesture, saying the upgraded facilities in the Centre would have impact on agricultural mechanisation in the country.

Aguda, who said that the Centre had the capacity of accommodating 50 people at a time, said it had trained no fewer than 2,000 people since its inception in 1985 thereby creating a multiplier effect in the country at large.

“The renovated tractor shield will make the tractors last much longer for effective use while hostel renovation will provide conducive habitat for students who are on training.

“We thank the ministry for the upgrading of our hostel facilities through the provision of beddings, mattresses and bunks, fixing of boreholes among others,’’ he said.

Speaking on the development, a resident and shop owner at Edo lodge, Oke-Ijebu, Akure, Mrs Vivian Oyefusi, applauded the Federal Government for the gesture and pleaded that government should do more at remote parts of the state.

“We have been enjoying the solar powered lights in our area and l believe with this development, it will help to scare away hoodlums coming around to disturb us,’’ she said.