Abiodun plans establishment of varsity campus in Ipokia

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has revealed his administration’s plan to establish a university campus in Ipokia Local Council of the state.

The governor disclosed this, yesterday, when he commissioned the 3.8-kilometre Ilase/Koko/Alari road in Ipokia, as part of his campaign tour of the local council.

According to Abiodun, the council is big enough and has a large population to have a tertiary institution.

He said that the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, was hurriedly established by the immediate past administration without the needed facilities, saying the school would require huge finance to take off effectively.

The governor described the local council as one of the food baskets of the state, an agricultural border town with international connectivity.

His words: “This local council is one that will earn us an oil-producing state status at Tongeji Island. We are working with relevant agencies and partners to commence oil exploration on the island.

“Through my discussion with the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo, we now have a naval base on the island to protect our people.”

On incessant clashes between the indigenes and men of the Nigeria Custom Service (NCS), the governor pleaded with the men and officers of the NCS to give human face to their duties to prevent unnecessary loss of lives, promising to continue dialogue with the service on the need to exercise restraint when dealing with the people.

He explained that the 3.8km road was part of the 400km roads constructed across the state and a promise he made during his campaign tour in 2018, adding that it would serve as a link to Ota and Benin Republic.

In his welcome address, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, said the road was in keeping with the promise to the people of the area that development would be extended to every part of the state, including Ogun West Senatorial District.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Yusuf Lateef, the commissioner said the road was in a bad shape before the construction, maintaining that apart from serving as a link to various communities in the local council, it would ensure security and improve commercial activities.

The Alase of Ilase, Oba John Olaifa, appreciated the governor for constructing the road and called on the government to provide the needed teaching and non-teaching staff as well as other facilities at the only secondary school in the area, pledging their unalloyed support to the governor for his re-election.