The African Development Bank (AfDB) has recognized Ogun State as a key partner in its development programs and project implementation.
This was stated by Professor Banji Oyelaran-Oyeyinka, the Special Adviser to the AfDB President on Industrialization, during an interview following a meeting with Governor Dapo Abiodun at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, over the weekend.
Professor Oyelaran-Oyeyinka indicated that the purpose of the visit was to discuss the development of the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone and clarify the subsidiary loan agreement between Ogun State and the Federal Government.
“Today, we’ve clarified our approach for the development of the hub, including the Agricultural Transformation Centre, to ensure that the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone becomes a reality,” he said.
Mr. Bolu Owotomo, the Commissioner for Agriculture, explained that the state stands to benefit from the Agricultural Transformation Centres, which will support the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone by providing raw materials.
He mentioned that his department is currently distributing agricultural inputs to farmers to help them achieve a successful harvest and enhance their livelihoods. Additionally, capacity-building efforts are underway, including the training of Extension Officers to guide small-scale farmers in maximizing the inputs distributed, and encouraging them to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices for better yields.
In other news, the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) is working to ensure the safe transportation of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) across the country, in response to the recent explosion in Abeokuta.
Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunoso Okeke, the Director-General of SON, provided these details during a meeting with Governor Abiodun at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.
Dr. Okeke described the explosion as regrettable but emphasized that CNG remains a clean, economical, and environmentally-friendly fuel alternative to traditional petroleum products. He revealed that new safety standards related to CNG operations will be launched by President Bola Tinubu on May 29, emphasizing the Federal Government’s commitment to CNG as a sustainable fuel alternative.
“I am here to inform the Governor that we now have safety standards for CNG operations. This comes following the recent explosion, which we are investigating to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future,” Dr. Okeke stated.
He extended his condolences to the families affected by the incident and assured that steps will be taken to ensure the safety of CNG operations going forward. “We aim to instill public confidence in the use of CNG and make it a reliable and safe fuel option for all,” he concluded.
