Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has said projects to be executed during his second term will be deliberately focused on boosting commerce, improving productivity and stimulating sustainable business growth across the state.
Oyebanji made the disclosure on Wednesday at a town hall meeting with stakeholders from Ekiti North Senatorial District in Ifaki-Ekiti, held as part of consultations for the 2027 state budget.
The governor, whose second term begins on October 16, said limited public resources meant that government projects must deliver measurable value and contribute directly to economic activity.
He said his administration would prioritise investments capable of improving the environment in which artisans, businesses and other economic actors operate.
According to Oyebanji, critical sectors including healthcare, electricity, road infrastructure and water supply would receive strategic attention during the second term.
He explained that improved infrastructure would help create conditions for residents to become more productive while supporting businesses and local commerce.
The governor specifically highlighted the importance of value addition, saying economic interventions should help workers and artisans such as welders and auto mechanics expand their activities and improve their livelihoods.
Oyebanji also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to participatory governance, saying community inputs would continue to influence decisions on project priorities.
He said the consultative approach adopted during his first term would be strengthened to increase public participation and promote unity across Ekiti State.
The town hall meeting brought together traditional rulers, community leaders, youth representatives and other stakeholders from communities across Ekiti North Senatorial District.
Participants used the consultation to identify infrastructure and development needs they wanted reflected in the 2027 budget.
Among the major priorities raised by community representatives were roads, electricity, water supply, healthcare and security.
The Alaaye of Oke Ayedun, Oba Femi Aribisala, speaking on behalf of Ikole Local Government Area, appealed for faster intervention in road, water and electricity projects.
He said inadequate road access and unreliable electricity were affecting economic activities and limiting the growth of local businesses.
Oyebanji also disclosed that collaboration between the state and Federal Government had facilitated the award of major road projects in Ekiti.
The projects include the Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba-Ikole Road and the Ado-Aramoko-Ita-Ore Road, while the governor said other critical roads would subsequently receive attention.
On electricity, Oyebanji said his administration had made efforts to extend access to communities but noted that existing legal arrangements had limited states to electricity generation without distribution authority.
The governor also commended traditional rulers for their role in supporting security efforts, particularly through intelligence gathering, while urging residents to remain vigilant.
The Commissioner for Health, Dr Oyebanji Filani, said more than 300 nurses and 1,500 health assistants had been recruited over the past four years, alongside upgrades to primary and secondary healthcare facilities.
Filani also disclosed that three new general hospitals had been approved for Ipao, Ikogosi and Awo-Ekiti.
The Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Professor Bolaji Aluko, said more than 500 boreholes had been constructed across the state, with another 110 proposed to improve access to water.
The state government has also approved N9.54 billion for new hospital buildings at the general hospitals in Ikogosi-Ekiti, Awo-Ekiti and Ipao-Ekiti, alongside road works and the rehabilitation and upgrading of 104 high-yielding boreholes.
The latest consultation is part of the state’s preparations for the 2027 budget and comes ahead of the governor’s second-term inauguration.
Oyebanji said the administration would continue to engage communities in determining development priorities, with the stated objective of ensuring that government spending translates into infrastructure, productivity and economic opportunities for residents.