The Oyo State Government has inaugurated 33 excavators to boost agricultural production, safety and rescue operations, as well as urban renewal across the Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Abiola Ajimobi said the purchase of the equipment was to further reinforce his earlier stance that he would sustain the administration’s developmental strides until May 28 when his tenure comes to an end.
The governor explained that it was one of the excavators that was deployed for rescue operations during the recent building collapse in Molete Area of Ibadan, making it possible to bring out all those trapped in the rubble alive.
The 33 excavators are fresh additions to the first batch of earth-moving equipment procured by the Ajimobi administration, with 320 tractors and 30 mini trucks distributed to 20 agrarian Local Government Areas in 2012.
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Ajimobi described his administration’s investment in agriculture, including the purchase of the excavators as another unprecedented feat in the history of the state.
“I make bold to say that this is the first administration in the history of this state that will invest so heavily in the agricultural sector. The 33 excavators we are inaugurating today is another unprecedented feat,” the governor said.
“The excavators will be used by the 33 Local Governments and the 35 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state for agricultural purposes, urban renewal and other environmental intervention purposes.
He stated that history will remember his administration for repositioning the agricultural sector in the state.
“We are proud of our achievements, especially in the restoration of peace and security, urban renewal, massive construction of quality roads across the state, among others. I want to say it unequivocally that we will work hard until May 28 when our tenure will end.
“This is why I want to urge all of you that have been part of our success story to walk tall anywhere you go. That God made it possible for us to spend eight unprecedented years is not a mean feat. You have no reason to be downcast because we lost election. Be of good cheer and be thankful to God.”
The governor called on the civil servants and traditional rulers in the state to cooperate with and support the incoming administration in the same way they did for his administration, in the larger interest of the state.
Ajimobi said its only when everybody is on the same page that the developmental strides of his administration could be sustained by his successor, whom he said would also be held accountable to his electioneering promises.
In a remark, Alex Nwoko, public sector manager of Mantrac, the supplier of the excavators, said the state government had taken a bold step by procuring the largest number of excavators by any state government for the use of its LGAs.
He said that the gesture was the highest singular investment by any state government in the country for the purpose of construction, safety and rescue efforts, as well as agricultural production.
“This is the singular highest investment in construction, safety efforts and for agricultural sector by a state government,” Nwoko said.
“The company’s policy and the agreement we entered into with Oyo State government will see to the training of operators and a standing warranty for the products.”
Akinremi Feyisipo,Ibadan
