• Reels out activities to mark 100 days in office
• Plans to feed, fete 720 elderly people freely
• Ondo govt partners World Bank, NEMA on solution to Aiyetoro sea surge
Contrary to speculation, Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, yesterday, explained that the administration had not cancelled the free shuttle buses programme for students in the 18 local councils.
He said that the social protection programme, which was inherited from his immediate predecessor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, had to be suspended due to breakdown of the buses.
Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Oladunni Odu, disclosed this while addressing journalists in Akure as part of events to celebrate Akeredolu’s second term and 100 days in office.
Some of the buses had been set ablaze by irate mobs during the #ENDSARS protest last year, leading to suspension of the programme last year.
Odu listed some of the scheduled programmes to include commissioning of road projects, power grids and potable water amenities across the state, among others.
Other programmes, according to her, include the feeding of 40 elderly people per local council across the state, while bursary would also be paid to support students in their academic pursuits.
IN another development, the state government has reiterated its commitment to partner relevant stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the sea incursion ravaging Aiyetoro community and other affected areas in Ilaje Local Council of the state.
The Deputy Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said this at the formal handing over of relief materials to victims of the Aiyetoro ocean surge in Igbokoda.
Aiyedatiwa said that the World Bank had been involved to fund construction work in Aiyetoro, adding that it would be carried out by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
He, however, noted that it might not be easy for victims to fully regain all that was lost in the unfortunate incident, saying: “The trend cannot continue, it must be stopped. Giving out palliatives can only mitigate your pains for a short while.”
He assured that the relief materials would go a long way to mitigate the effect on the people while the government is working on a lasting solution to the ocean surge with utmost urgency.
The deputy governor, who lauded National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for rendering assistance to the state, said government would hold talks with NDDC to earmark fund in its budget for the completion of Igbokoda/Aiyetoro Road.
Director-General of NEMA, Muhammadu Muhammed, gave the assurance that the agency was willing to sustain its synergy with Ondo State Government to explore long-term solutions to such natural disasters.
Muhammed, who was represented by the Ekiti/Ondo Head of Operations, Olusegun Afolayan, sought deliberate efforts on disaster risk management and robust collaboration by stakeholders at all levels.
