The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, has unveiled a nine-point development agenda, promising to prioritise infrastructure, job creation, agriculture, healthcare, education and industrialisation if elected governor in the 2027 governorship election.

Adeola, who made the disclosure yesterday during a courtesy visit to the Ogun State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Iwe Iroyin Press Centre, Abeokuta, also pledged to introduce reforms aimed at improving public finance, local government administration, the civil service and the justice sector.

The senator, who represents Ogun West in the National Assembly, described his programme as a “covenant” with the people of the state, saying journalists would be expected to hold his administration accountable to the promises.

He said: “I stand before you not as a politician reciting promises, but as a son of Ogun State bringing you a covenant, a plan I intend to be held accountable to, page by page, project by project.”

Adeola said his decision to begin his statewide campaign engagements with the media was informed by the constitutional role of the Fourth Estate in the electoral process.

He commended journalists in the state for what he described as their support throughout his political career, attributing part of his electoral successes to positive media coverage.

The APC candidate said his experience in public finance and legislative oversight, including his service as chairman of finance and appropriations committees at state and federal levels, had prepared him for the responsibilities of governing Ogun.

Adeola said Ogun’s geographical position, bordering Lagos, Oyo, Osun, Ondo, the Atlantic Ocean and the Republic of Benin, offered the state significant economic opportunities that should be better harnessed.

He proposed positioning Ogun as an export gateway under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while developing free trade zones, dry ports and economic development clusters.

On infrastructure, Adeola promised to introduce an Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Programme on major routes, including Abeokuta-Sango-Ota-Sagamu, and work with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to develop commuter rail connections between Abeokuta, Lagos and industrial corridors.

He also proposed “OgunRide”, a state-backed mobility platform for commercial transport operators, which he said would provide drivers with health insurance, vehicle financing and cooperative support.

The candidate listed tourism and creative arts as another priority, promising to develop Abeokuta’s historical sites, Ijebu festivals and the coastal heritage of Ogun Waterside, while promoting Adire, film, music and fashion as components of the state’s creative economy.

In education, Adeola said his administration would expand technical and vocational training, address shortages of qualified teachers and improve classroom infrastructure.

He also promised reforms in the security sector, including increased funding for the Ogun State Security Trust Fund, establishment of a Cybersecurity and Security Operations Centre, and creation of a Residents Identity Management Agency.

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

Adeola also promised to train 100,000 young people in digital skills by 2031 and establish a Youth Enterprise Hub in Abeokuta, with satellite hubs across the state. He said the initiative would be supported by microcredit for young entrepreneurs.

He further proposed multipurpose sports complexes in each senatorial district, grassroots talent centres and an Ogun Youth Sports Academy.

Agriculture, according to him, would receive greater attention through mechanisation, farmer financing, processing hubs, climate-smart farming and agro-industrial parks.

Adeola also announced plans for a Solid Minerals Development Company to facilitate licences and joint ventures in the state’s mineral resources, while bringing artisanal miners into the formal economy.

He drew particular attention to oil exploration in Ogun Waterside and Ipokia, describing developments around Eba Island and Tongeji Island as potentially significant to the state’s future revenue.

Adeola said the state must prepare for increased revenue from natural resources by ensuring transparency and directing development towards coastal communities.

On environmental management, he promised to revive the Ogun State Waste Management Agency, license private operators for door-to-door waste collection and establish recycling and waste-to-energy initiatives.

The APC candidate also outlined six proposed institutional reforms covering fiscal discipline and revenue mobilisation, justice, legislation, the civil service, state assets and local government autonomy.

He acknowledged the incumbent administration’s reported growth in internally generated revenue between 2021 and 2024, describing it as an achievement that should be built upon rather than discarded.

Adeola said his proposed single-window revenue collection system would integrate tax, fees and levies across government, with a target of increasing internally generated revenue by 40 per cent by 2031.

He further pledged to implement the minimum wage in full, improve civil servants’ welfare and training, and introduce performance-based management.

On local government administration, he said allocations should reach the 20 local government areas directly, in line with the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling on local government financial autonomy.

Adeola promised that his manifesto would be translated into measurable implementation plans, with government agencies assigned performance targets and regular public reporting.

He urged journalists not to merely report his promises but to monitor their implementation if he eventually becomes governor.

“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.

The senator said his administration, if elected, would comply with the Freedom of Information Act, hold regular press briefings and treat the media as a partner in governance.

He added that the welfare and safety of journalists would receive attention, insisting that his proposed government would welcome scrutiny.

Adeola emerged as the APC governorship candidate ahead of the 2027 election after the party’s primary in Ogun State. His campaign is expected to take his policy proposals to communities across the state in the coming months.