Dapo Abiodun, governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun state has pledged to increase the state’s internally generated revenue by 50% monthly when elected governor of the state which translates to N12 billion from the current N6 billion benchmark.
He added that his government would establish “Ok’owo Dapo”, a continuation of Muhammadu Buhari-led Presidency tradermoni that would be disbursed to qualified traders in the state without any collateral as part of efforts to stimulate economy through the micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
Speaking while reeling out manifestoes and governance agenda for the state at his country home in Iperu-Remo, Ikenne Local Government Area of the state on Tuesday, Dapo Abiodun noted that his governance agenda and manifestoes for the state when elected governor would cover infrastructure, healthcare, security, agriculture, tourism, water, education, social welfare, youth empowerment, credit facility to traders, among others.
Abiodun, who was flanked by his running mate, Noimot Salako-Oyedele from Ogun west senatorial district, also added that there would be a strategic plan to set up industrial park with required incentives that would feed existing manufacturing and service-based industries as well as attract more foreign direct investments to the state with a view to creating more employment, wealth and earn more revenue for the state.
He said, “Today, Ogun state is still generating N6 billion in terms of internally generated revenue, I am confident that this can be increased by minimum of 50% though I may not be able to tell you how I will do that until I get there.
“Other developmental projects are going to be done by a way of public private partnership.
“For Ok’owo Dapo, we are going to create collateral free credit facilities for all our small business owners, artisans, tilers and entrepreneurs that are qualified to access the fund. Ok’owo Dapo will be sustained and institutionalized in conjunction with cooperatives. We need to say that we will initiate empowerment programme according to the identified needs of different groups.”
When asked to explain further on what he would exactly on infrastructure going by what the current administration of Governor Ibikunle Amosun is doing in terms of infrastructure, urban renewal and entire development of the state, Abiodun stated that he would be build on existing and ongoing infrastructural development of Governor Amosun-led APC government in the state, but he would demolish structures unnecessarily as being done by Governor Amosun.
“We will not be known as a government that demolishes, we will only do some demolition where necessary. Except for our safety, may be it is standing on the way of erosion or for right of way”, he added.