• Says 200 km roads delivered, 100 PHCs revamped in 18 months
• FG partners state govt to tackle ‘offensive odour’ amid health concerns

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has stated that his administration has recorded substantial achievements across all key sectors of governance, harping on what he described as prudent financial management and people-oriented policies.

Aiyedatiwa, while speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Ebenezer Adeniyan, at a media briefing in Akure, the state capital, reeled out his administration’s scorecard since assuming office 18 months ago.

According to the Chief Press Secretary, Aiyedatiwa has delivered measurable outcomes in infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, security, youth and women empowerment, and public service reform.

Adeniyan said that the governor had been able to ensure an 82.6 per cent reduction in the state’s domestic debt profile, which he said represented the highest percentage decline in the country and reflects the government’s fiscal discipline and debt management strategies.

This milestone, he explained, was accompanied by the clearance of all outstanding salary arrears owed to civil servants and former political office holders, as well as the settlement of gratuities owed to pensioners across the state.

The governor’s aide maintained that in the health sector, the administration had recruited more than 2,000 health professionals and become the first state in the South-West region to implement the enhanced CONMESS and CONHESS allowances for health workers.

HOWEVER, the Federal Government has begun collaborating with the Ondo State Government to identify the source of the persistent offensive odour reported in parts of Akure, the state capital, and other areas.

The intervention aims to determine the cause of the odour through scientific methods and to find a lasting solution to the environmental challenge.

The Chief Press Secretary also disclosed that more than 200 kilometres of roads had been completed within the last 18 months, while a 90-kilometre rehabilitation programme is ongoing across all the 18 local councils of the state.

“The education sector has witnessed the recruitment of over 2,000 teachers, the revival of free school shuttle services, and the expansion of scholarships and bursaries,” he stated.

Residents had recently raised concerns about the persistent unpleasant smell, which has become unbearable and potentially hazardous to human health and the environment.

Some residents, particularly in Alagbaka, Oda Road, Shagari and Oba Ile axis, claimed that the situation had forced them to keep their windows shut and limit the time they spend outdoors whenever the odour becomes intense.

The state’s Commissioner for the Environment, Tob Loko, disclosed the federal-state collaboration in a statement in Akure at the weekend.

He said the engagements involved the Director of Pollution Control, Adeola Omotunde, her team of experts, and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of the Environment.

According to him, discussions on the issue aimed to strengthen collaboration and secure additional technical support to address the environmental concern.

Meanwhile, Adeniyan disclosed that Aiyedatiwa had approved N18 million for the Ministry of the Environment to deploy scientific measures to identify the cause of the persistent odour.

He said the state government was concerned about the development and had directed the ministry to investigate its cause and work towards a lasting solution.

According to him, the challenge was not peculiar to Ondo State, as some communities in neighbouring Ekiti and Ogun states were also experiencing similar environmental problems.