By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, has pledged to transform the state’s economic potential into tangible benefits for residents through measurable development, accountable governance and inclusive policies.

Adeola pledged on Friday when he visited the Ogun State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Iwe Iroyin Press Centre, Abeokuta, as part of his engagements ahead of the 2027 governorship election.

He said Ogun had reached a critical stage where its strategic location, industrial base, agricultural resources, coastline and human capital must be deliberately harnessed to create jobs, expand infrastructure and improve the living standards of residents.

The APC candidate said his administration, if elected, would be guided by a clear implementation framework with measurable targets, rather than promises contained only in a manifesto.

“A manifesto that stays on paper is a betrayal of the people who trusted it,” Adeola said.
He explained that his proposed administration would hold government agencies to performance agreements and publish regular reports on the progress of its programmes.

Adeola said his vision was to build “a transformed Ogun State where our natural and human resources are sustainably harnessed to unlock our economic and agro-industrial prowess, while ensuring inclusive governance and shared prosperity for our citizens in a vibrant and secure environment.”

He identified Ogun’s proximity to Lagos, its borders with other South-West states and the Republic of Benin, as well as its access to the Atlantic Ocean, as strategic advantages that could position the state as a major regional trade and export hub.

“Ogun State stands at the cusp of greatness,” he said, stressing that the state should take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to become a major export gateway rather than merely serving as a transit corridor for economic activities.

Adeola said infrastructure would be central to his development agenda, promising a mass transit system along major urban corridors, improved rail connectivity with Lagos and the development of a state backed mobility system.

He also promised investments in digital connectivity, affordable housing and new urban centres along emerging economic corridors.

On employment and youth development, the APC candidate proposed training 100,000 young people in digital skills by 2031 and establishing a Youth Enterprise Hub in Abeokuta, with satellite centres across the state to provide business support and access to microcredit.

He said agriculture would be repositioned through mechanisation, improved access to finance, agro-processing and the establishment of produce markets aimed at reducing post-harvest losses and improving farmers’ access to markets.

Adeola also pledged to manage Ogun’s emerging oil and maritime opportunities transparently, particularly in the coastal axis, with revenue channelled towards the development of host communities.

“We must prepare for this revenue responsibly. It must be governed transparently, and it must visibly rebuild the coastal communities that have waited longest for development,” he said.

On healthcare, he promised to expand health infrastructure and revitalise the “Ilera D’ero” health insurance scheme, with a target of enrolling two million residents.

He also outlined reforms in education, security, justice, civil service, environmental management and physical planning, while promising to strengthen local government administration.

“Government that cannot be felt where people live is not government at all,” Adeola said, pledging to respect local government autonomy and ensure that resources meant for the 20 local government areas were used for grassroots development.

On revenue generation, he acknowledged the progress recorded by the present administration in increasing the state’s internally generated revenue, saying he would build on the existing foundation through technology-driven revenue collection rather than imposing additional burdens on residents.

“My task is not to start from zero, it is to take that momentum and push it further,” he said.
Adeola also promised an open relationship with the media, including regular press briefings, compliance with the Freedom of Information Act and greater attention to the welfare and safety of journalists.

“My administration will comply fully with the Freedom of Information Act, hold regular, substantive press briefings rather than choreographed photo opportunities, and treat this Union as a partner in governance, not an inconvenience to be managed,” he said.

He urged journalists to scrutinise his plans and hold him accountable if elected.

“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.

Earlier, the Chairman of the NUJ, Ogun State Council, Comrade Wale Olanrewaju, highlighted some of the achievements and projects recorded by the council under his leadership over the past three years.

Olanrewaju said the council had strengthened its structures, improved the working environment for journalists and promoted the welfare and professional development of its members.

He, however, called for greater intervention in areas affecting the welfare and living conditions of journalists, particularly housing.

The NUJ chairman appealed to Adeola to support the establishment of a dedicated journalists’ estate in Ogun, as well as capacity building, safety, infrastructure and welfare initiatives for media practitioners.

He also sought stronger support for the union’s permanent site, saying a befitting secretariat and professional facilities would enhance the NUJ’s capacity to serve its members and contribute to the development of journalism in the state.

As part of activities marking the NUJ Ogun State Council’s 50th anniversary, the council decorated Adeola as a Golden Jubilee Ambassador in recognition of his relationship with the media community and his stated commitment to journalists.

Responding to the demands, Adeola pledged an initial N50 million contribution towards the NUJ permanent site project and promised to provide a new bus to support the union’s activities and mobility.

He subsequently unveiled a nine-point development agenda covering infrastructure, job creation, agriculture, healthcare, education, industrialisation, security, tourism and institutional reforms.

Among the proposals is an Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Programme covering major routes, including the Abeokuta-Sango-Ota-Sagamu corridor, as well as efforts to explore commuter rail connections between Abeokuta, Lagos and key industrial corridors.

Adeola said Ogun’s strategic location and economic assets provided the foundation for industrialisation, trade, tourism and increased participation in the AfCFTA.

He maintained that the success of his proposed administration would ultimately be measured by the extent to which residents across urban, rural and coastal communities felt the impact of government.

“Itesiwaju Ipinle Ogun Lo Je Wa Logun, the progress of Ogun State is our duty and our calling. Let us build, together, the Ogun of our dreams: a state where governance truly works for everyone,” he said.