Anglicans, in the Diocese on the Coast, have admonished the administration of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa to take certain steps, especially in the oil production circle and marine sector, to ensure that Ondo State is not shortchanged, and to put it on the path of real development.

At the third session of the 10th synod of the diocese, held at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Lebi-Okitipupa, the state, as an oil producer, was charged to play its politics right within the nation’s oil-rich region to be able to explore the limitless opportunities available either directly from the Federal Government or through its relevant agencies, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The synod, themed ‘That I may key into God’s abundance,’ Deuteronomy 28:12 and presided over by the Diocesan Bishop, The Rt. Rev’d OlaOluwa Oluseyi Pirisola, congratulated Aiyedatiwa on his victory in the 2024 gubernatorial election and called for a proactive move to ensure that Ondo State did not lose the Olokola strategic land to Ogun State after the deployment of $500 million to the project.

He said that the withdrawal of interest in the Olokola Deep Sea Port Project should not cost Ondo the said land.

Noting with concern that Ondo has not benefited much from the various Federal Government’s interventions in the maritime sector in the last 25 years, most probably because of the layback attitude of the state, the synod urged Aiyedatiwa to be responsive to maximising the benefits inherent in its maritime domain in collaboration with the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to stimulate economic growth and job creation.

The Anglicans also charged the government to reactivate all moribund industries in the state, expand business activities at Ore Industrial Park, prioritise rural electrification, build rural roads and rehabilitate bad ones, including the Iju-Odo-Omotosho Road and Igbotako-Akinfosile Road, and extend the dualisation of Ore-Ondo-Akure Road to Okitipupa/Igbokoda.

They lauded the restoration of public electricity supply to Okitipupa Local Council and commented on all those who made it happen, cautioning electricity consumers in the area against any act of illegality in the supply and consumption of power, including unauthorised connection, which amounts to stealing and can lead to electrocution.