The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, has unveiled an economic development agenda centred on industrialisation, agriculture, job creation and increased revenue generation if elected governor in the 2027 governorship election.

Adeola, who spoke during a visit to the Ogun State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) at Iwe Iroyin Press Centre, Abeokuta, said Ogun’s strategic location and proximity to Lagos, Benin Republic and the Atlantic Ocean placed the state in a position to become a major export gateway under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He said his administration would fast-track free trade zones, dry ports and Economic Development Clusters while strengthening agro-industrial parks and processing hubs to transform agricultural produce into finished goods.

He also promised to support farmers with financing and climate-smart farming initiatives, while promoting agribusiness as a major source of employment.

The senator also linked Ogun’s emerging oil and mineral resources to the state’s economic future, citing commercial oil drilling at Eba Island and exploration at Tongeji Island.

He said prospective revenue, including the constitutional derivation fund, would have to be managed transparently and used to develop communities that have historically been underserved.

On revenue, Adeola acknowledged the growth recorded in Ogun’s internally generated revenue between 2021 and 2024, saying his administration would seek to build on the existing momentum through a Single Window Revenue Collection System.

He projected a 40 per cent increase in IGR and a three-to-fivefold increase in land revenue by 2031, insisting that the proposal was aimed at improving collection efficiency rather than introducing new taxes.

On healthcare, the APC candidate promised to expand health infrastructure in underserved communities and revitalise the state health insurance scheme, “Ilera D’ero”, with a target of enrolling two million residents.

He also pledged greater investment in doctors, nurses and community health workers.

Adeola said his administration would pursue a broader approach to healthcare delivery, linking access to health services with local development.

The Senator specifically cited plans for communities such as Tongeji Island to have access to roads and clinics as part of his proposed development agenda.

The governorship candidate also pledged to implement local government autonomy, saying allocations would flow directly to Ogun’s 20 Local Government Areas in line with the 2024 Supreme Court ruling.

He argued that government services such as roads, health centres and markets would be delivered more effectively when the level of government closest to the people controls its resources.

Adeola further promised that his proposed local government policy would make development more visible at the grassroots, stressing that the impact of his agenda should be felt beyond the state capital and major urban centres.

He said the economic, healthcare and local government components of his agenda would form part of a broader implementation framework, with measurable targets, performance agreements for government agencies and public reporting on achievements and areas requiring improvement.