From Ola Osikoya, Abeokuta
The Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly known as Yayi, has unveiled a nine-point development agenda anchored on infrastructure, industrialisation, agriculture, education, healthcare, security, job creation and inclusive governance.
Adeola presented his policy framework on Friday, September 25, 2026, during an interactive session with journalists at the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat, Iwe Iroyin, Abeokuta.
The APC candidate described the programme as a “covenant” with the people of Ogun State, promising that his administration, if elected in the 2027 governorship election, would be measured against specific targets and publicly accountable commitments.
At the centre of the agenda is his proposal for greater financial autonomy for the 20 local government areas of the state.
Adeola said his administration would ensure that federal allocations due to the local governments flow directly to them, in line with the 2024 Supreme Court ruling on local government financial autonomy, arguing that communities would receive more effective services when government is brought closer to the people.
He also promised a comprehensive civil service reform, including improved training and welfare, full implementation of the minimum wage and a performance-based culture within the public service.
On infrastructure, Adeola proposed an Ogun State Bus Mass Transit Programme covering major corridors, including Abeokuta, Sango-Ota and Sagamu, as well as collaboration with the Nigerian Railway Corporation to expand commuter rail connections between Ogun and Lagos.
He further proposed an OgunRide mobility platform for commercial transport operators, which he said would provide drivers with access to health insurance, vehicle financing and cooperative support.
Youth employment and entrepreneurship also featured prominently in the proposed agenda.
Adeola pledged to train 100,000 young people in digital skills by 2031 and establish a Youth Enterprise Hub in Abeokuta within his first six months in office, with satellite hubs across the state.
He said the programme would be supported with microcredit and other interventions aimed at reducing youth unemployment and facilitating the creation of more than 500,000 jobs.
In agriculture, the APC candidate promised mechanisation, farmer financing, processing hubs and climate-smart farming, alongside agro-industrial parks designed to move Ogun farmers from subsistence production to commercially viable and export-oriented value chains.
Adeola also placed industrialisation and the state’s mineral resources at the centre of his economic plans.
He proposed the establishment of a Solid Minerals Development Company to pursue licences and joint ventures in the sector, while bringing artisanal miners into the formal economy through simplified licensing and cooperative arrangements.
The candidate also identified Ogun’s coastal assets and emerging energy opportunities as areas requiring strategic planning, pointing to developments around Eba Island and Tongeji Island and the proposed coastal energy corridor.
On healthcare, Adeola proposed the revitalisation of the state health insurance programme, “Ilera D’ero,” with a target of enrolling two million residents, alongside investments in healthcare infrastructure and medical personnel.
His education plan includes expanded technical and vocational training, improved learning infrastructure and measures to address shortages of qualified teachers.
For security, Adeola proposed stronger funding for the Ogun State Security Trust Fund, a Cybersecurity and Security Operations Centre and a Residents Identity Management Agency.
He also promised reforms in waste management and urban planning, including the relaunch of the Ogun State Waste Management Agency, greater involvement of licensed private waste operators, recycling hubs and waste-to-energy initia
