Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde has approved the sum of N1, 201,760,000 for the reconstruction of Oyo State Governor’s Lodge located at No 2. John Kadiya Close, Abuja.
In similar development, a sum of N279.2 million has been approved for the production of ballot papers to be used for the forthcoming local government election in the state.
The state Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr. Wasiu Olatunbosun disclosed this while briefing journalists after the state’s Executive Council meeting.
Prof. Kehinde Sangodoyin, who is the Commissioner for Public Works and Infrastructure, stated that the project will be completed in the next six months.
He said that the lodge will have the Governor’s Lodge, Deputy Governor’s Lodge, some chalets, fittings and some furniture, which, he said, will be of modern type. He added that construction work will be funded through Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA) at the cost of N1, 201,760,000.
“To leave a distinct legacy for the administration of His Excellency, Oluseyi Makinde, the executive council has approved the construction of new Governor’s Lodge at No 2. John Kadiya Close, Abuja, which is under APFA.
“The lodge has been there for a while and our government noticed the dilapidated condition. It will have the Governor’s Lodge, Deputy Governor’s Lodge, some chalets, fittings and some furniture, which will be of modern type. This is part of what the administration will leave behind,” Sangodoyin said.
Dr. Olatunbosun, while speaking on money approved for printing of ballot papers, stated that the production is directly awarded to Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company, NSPMC.
He said that government did this to show that its seriousness and commitment towards conducting free and fair local government election.
According to him, “The Council approved the production of ballotpapers to be used for forthcoming local government election, which is scheduled to hold on May 15, 2021. And the production is directly awarded to Nigerian Security Printing and Minting Company.
“We did this to show how serious and transparent we are and how prepared this administration is towards the forthcoming election. We are giving the contract for the production out to a reputable printing company known for printing of security materials.
“In the past elections in the state, they made use of government printing press, but, this time around, we want a third party to handle this sensitive material so that nobody will have access to the ballot papers.”
