Oyo State Governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde, has assured the people of the state that his administration would take necessary actions to ease their economic hardship and guarantee their increased spending power in 2025.
Governor Makinde gave the assurance on Wednesday in his statewide broadcast to the people of the State on the occasion of the New Year celebration.
“As an administration, we look forward to doing more for our people, but determined to take actions that will increase your spending power and ease the economic strain you’re currently facing,” Governor Makinde said.
Highlighting the disasters that befell the state from the January 2024 Bodija explosion and death of 35 children at a Christmas funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, in December, the governor said the tragedies had spurred his administration to take necessary actions to make the state more secure.
“Our resilience as a people have been tested almost to the limits. We have faced economic challenges and social tragedies that have been a direct or indirect result of these challenges.
“We’re shocked by the 16 January 2024 Bodija incident, we reacted by signing Executive Order 001 2024 in the safe handling and storage of harmful substances within Oyo State. We also took steps to give support to those who were primarily affected by this incident, we would give them even more support this 2025.
“In December 2024, disaster again struck in our dear state as we lost 35 children to a stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun. We’re still mourning this great loss.
“Throughout the year, we struggled with economic challenges as a nation; inflation rate reduced our spending power and dragged more people into poverty than we’re able to help escaped poverty. Our hearts are heavy. Still, we’re thankful.
“These tragedies have forced us as a government to go back to the drawing board and take a second look at our strategies, policies and programmes. For example, following the Bodija incident, we took actions that have further secured the lives of our people; we’re more determined to put further measures in place to ensure that incident like this never occur again,” the Oyo State governor said.
He added that the economic difficulties confronting the country have also spurred his administration to further take actions to pull the people out of poverty.
“We invested in making Oyo State an economic hub, making our environment more ideal for the private sector to thrive.
“We welcome African Consortium and Shell Nigeria Gas into Oyo State; completed and commissioned the first phase of our Independent Power Plant, a public-private partnership with Electron Energy, and flagged off the second Agribusiness Industrial construction at Eruwa.
“Indeed, despite the pain we feel regarding the tragedies that befell as last year, we are thankful. We’re grateful as we commit ourselves to God and confront whatever further obstacles that may come our way, for He is faithful, and He has said He will not allow any temptation to come upon us beyond what we can bear, but along with the temptation, He will make a way for us.
“So, with this confidence, we look forward to a 2025 that’ll be a turnaround for us personally and as a people.
“We commit to being less reactive and more proactive. This is why we have mandated appropriate agencies to sensitise our people more about their duties and responsibilities. This will lower the possibility of these avoidable disasters. We’re thankful for the opportunity to see a New Year. I wish you a happy new year and a very prosperous 2025,” Makinde stated.
