Ondo State 30-year Development Plan has been unveiled by the State Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan.
Addressing journalists in Akure on Friday, Pastor Igbasan pointed out that the State 30-year Development Plan was targeted at fast tracking rapid growth of the state.
Igbasan noted that the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s administration was being designed as a 30-year development plan which successive administrations are expected to implement for a new, productive and prosperous Ondo state
The Commissioner flanked by the State Commissioner for Education, Pastor Femi Agagu; the Chairman of the Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS), Mr Tolu Adegbie as well as top government officials, said the project tagged ONDO 2054 was being proposed on four pillars of prosperous economy, human capital development, Administration, environment and infrastructure.
Igbasan pointed that the long term development agenda was in line with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Law 2017, aiming to provide accelerated growth in Ondo state for the next 30 years.
He stated that the 18 local governments would be involved to enable them come up with core areas of developmental need for economic prosperity of the people.
Igbasan called on residents of Ondo State to support the government in actualizing the plan, which would put the abundant human and natural resources of the state into optimum use for the good of all.
“As a people, we must define a clear path for our progress. For anyone or nation to experience progress and development, there must be a clear, strategic and sustainable trajectory, which provides the compass that will guide and direct efforts and resources. The future we all desire, depends on the vision we have, strength of the foundation we lay, and the efforts we make today.
“It is therefore against this realisation that the present administration, in compliance with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Law 2017; commenced the process of charting a clear path that will not only address our present day challenges, but provide the high way for accelerated development for the next thirty years.
“The core objective of this exercise is to galvanize all citizens and friends of Ondo State to collectively set the policy direction that will optimize our efforts, harness our potentials, define the future we want and channel them to catalyse socio- economic activities that will guarantee a shared prosperity for all, irrespective of the party in power.
“The event signposts another landmark in our journey to prosperity which commenced with the help of our Development and Technical Partner – UNDP, who assisted us in conducting the needs assessment throughout the eighteen Local Government areas and trained our technical staff on system dynamics approach. We are grateful to UNDP and we know they will be available for us, all through the journey of crafting this Plan.
“Ondo State which is ranked the 7th biggest economy in Nigeria, possesses a tremendous potential to be the giant of Nigeria, as the highest producer of cocoa, largest deposit of bitumen, equally has vast arable and fertile land with various vegetation ranging from the savannah at the northern part, to the rain forest at the central part, which is suitable for all arable and cash crops, and bounded by the ocean with the longest coastline, deepest natural draft for deep Sea Port, suitable for Africa’s maritime hub.
“The State is blessed with abundant mineral resources, such as gold, oil and gas, granite silica sand, ceramics etc., but most essentially it is populated with about six million intelligent, honest and industrious people. We are naturally positioned as the pride of the Nigerian State and the elegant bride of Africa.
“We therefore call on all and sundry to join hand with us as we collectively decide on the best way to harmonize our development strides, direct our focus and concentrate our efforts now and in the future to achieve our desire for a great Ondo State,” Igbasan said.
