Ekiti governor defends record as state prepares 2027 budget

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has defended his administration’s budget record and said it has honoured commitments made to residents during budget preparations and the 2022 election campaign. Oyebanji spoke on Thursday at a town hall meeting with stakeholders from Ekiti Central Senatorial District in Aramoko Ekiti, organised as part of preparations for the 2027 budget. The governor said his administration had captured residents’ requests through town hall consultations and had implemented projects across the state.

He said the record of budget performance showed that he had not betrayed the people’s trust or taken their needs for granted. Oyebanji also announced plans to use the state’s partnership with the World Bank through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project to deliver 1,500 kilometres of roads across Ekiti. He said 235 kilometres would be covered during the third phase of the project, scheduled to begin after the rainy season.

The governor identified flooding and gully erosion in Efon, Aramoko and Ado Ekiti as continuing concerns. He said the government had studied the erosion problems and was preparing a strategy to address them. He said 110 primary healthcare centres had been renovated and promised further improvements to reduce illness and deaths.

Oyebanji also credited traditional rulers with helping to reduce security threats through local intelligence and vigilance. Representatives of Ado, Ekiti West, Irepodun/Ifelodun, Ijero and Efon local governments praised the administration’s management of resources and funding of Local Council Development Areas. Their requests for the 2027 budget included more roads, stronger electricity networks, healthcare and ambulance services, erosion control, water and additional public secondary schools.