Kunle Adelabu
-Council to focus on infrastructural expansion, economic empowerment, others
The Ijede Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has engaged stakeholders across critical sectors of the council in setting priorities for its 2027 budget preparation in line with its inclusive governance, while targeting infrastructural expansion, economic empowerment and agricultural development among others.
The council chairman, Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo –Alogba, emphasized that the parley is important in ensuring inclusiveness and also ensuring that prrojects and programmes of the administration are executed to benefit the people.
Hon. Femi Kabir, the Vice Chairman, represented the chairman at the Year 2027 Budget Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum, held last Friday at the Ijede LCDA Secretariat, with stakeholders from the traditional, market, CDC/CDA, students, youths, professional, artisan, transport, health and other sectors gathered to present their critical needs to the council.
“This meeting is designed to put the stakeholders in the driver’s seat. The budget we are planning to draft must not be prepared in an isolated office. It must be a living document forged from your authentic needs, prioritized by your community development associations, and shaped by your everyday experiences.
“As we open the floor for deliberations and presentations , I urge you to speak freely, constructively, and patriotically. Tell us your priorities. Where do we need to channel more energy? What critical gaps still need bridging in your respective neighborhoods?
The council boss assured stakeholders that their demands on behalf of residents of Ijede, will be integrated into the framework of the 2027 budget preparation.
“Rest assured, your inputs today will be meticulously collated, analyzed, and integrated into the draft framework of the 2027 Appropriation Bill before it is presented to the Legislative Council for legislative consideration.
Listing the area of focus for the 2027 fiscal year, Ijede council boss said that the council is targeting to complete and expand infrastructures by ensuring that ongoing capital projects are successfully delivered while opening up new corridors for community and economic development.
Other targets are Economic Empowerment, Agriculture, and Social Welfare; Environmental Sanitation and Public Health; Peace, Security, and Social Services and Inclusive Governance through which the council chairman said that every community within Ijede LCDA—from Ijede proper to Gberigbe, Egbin, Oloko, and surrounding communities will feel the positive impact of local governance.
While listing her administration’s achievements in the soon-to- conclude year in the area of Healthcare, Maternal and Newborn Care, Hon. Gbadebo –Alogba said that the council flagged-off the Measles-Rubella Vaccination Campaign. targeting children aged nine months to fourteen years, embarked on a free health screening programme in partnership with the Olusegun Obasanjo Foundation.
She also listed Free Maternal and Newborn Healthcare Programme; the Tunrayo Delivery Kits Initiative; Free health screening and sensitisation programmes, and construction of a Primary Health Centre at Ayetoro, representing an important healthcare infrastructure intervention intended to bring essential health services closer to residents among others.
Ijede chair also mentioned the facilitation of road construction works on Oremeta Street, also known as Ibiwunmi Folashade Street, in Igbopa, incorporating a drainage system and the installation of solar-powered streetlights and the construction and channelisation of a 1.5-kilometre drainage system at Ayegbami Powerline among others in the infrastructural development efforts.
Others areas which the council listed to have impacted were Agriculture; Environmental Sanitation and Sustainable Development; Peace, Security and Community Engagement and Social Welfare and Support for Vulnerable Residents.
Mrs. Lasisi Mosidat Afolake, Council Manager, Ijede LCDA, who was represented by the council’s Human Resource Officer, also assured residents that their suggestions and recommendations will be seriously considered for allocation and execution in the 2027 budget, while reaffirming the council’s commitment to sound financial management, effective resource utilisation, strict adherence to due process, and the efficient implementation of approved programmes and projects.
“Today’s meeting provides an important platform for consultations, collaborations, and constructive engagement as we collectively determine the priorities that will guide the administration and development of Ijede LCDA in the 2027 fiscal year.
“A budget is more than a financial document; it is a statement of purpose, a reflection of our collective aspirations, and a practical roadmap for translating government policies and promises into tangible benefits for the people.
“It determines how available resources are allocated to address the needs of our communities, improve public infrastructure, strengthen essential services, and promote sustainable development”, the Chairman said while setting the tone for the parley.
She emphasized the need to carry residents along in the preparation of the budget, while also emphasizing the need for proper planning and financial prudence which, according to her, form key factors of any successful budget.
The council manager called for collective engagement and collaboration of stakeholders towards the development of Ijede.
“The responsibility of development is a collective one. Government cannot achieve sustainable progress in isolation; it requires the active participation, cooperation, and support of the people it serves.
“Let us, therefore, approach this meeting with open minds, mutual respect, and a shared determination to make the 2027 budget, a meaningful instrument for growth and improved service delivery”.
Dr Olumuyiwa Balogun –Oluwa, the Medical Director/Chief Executive Officer, General Hospital, Ijede, speaking, called for more collaboration, and partnership with the hospital by the Ijede community, especially the council.
The health professional, who said that the hospital on monthly basis attended to 18, 000 patients on the average, stressed that such partnership has earned the hospital award as the best in the state in the recent past.
He pleaded for facility expansion and support of the community.
APC leader in Ijede LCDA, Alhaji Quadri Jamiu, called for the need for the General Hospital, to have a mortuary to cater for residents instead of going outside the town.
Chief Ajala, another political leader, informed the council functionaries and stakeholders at the parley that the apex political body in the council has compiled all the needs across the wards and needed time to meet and ratify it before its presentation to the council authorities.
Dr. Ganiy Agbaje, former Director, African Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in English (ARCSSTE –E) and a chieftain of Ijede Development Forum, in his submission, called for economic development around the lagoon that is surrounding Ijede LCDA.
He also called for a redevelopment plan for Ijede, while urging the Ijede LCDA to focus on constructing drainages across the council and stabilize road surfaces.
The Baba Oloja of Ijede, Chief Fatai Lawal, Baale of Abule –Eko who spoke on behalf of the market associations, urged the Ijede council to establish a big market that is befitting the developing community,
While the representative of His Royal Majesty, Oba Adefarasin Saheed Hassan, the Alajede of Ijede and the Alajede in Council charged the council to reconstruct the Alajede palace to give the town a befitting palace, the representative of Obateru of Egbin, His Royal Majesty, Oba AbdulHakeem Oyebo and his council, represented by High Chief Lateef Sokoya, the Olisa of Egbin, called for clearing of drainage from Egbin thermal station, construction of the Obateru Road and the provision of a public toilet within the Egbin community.
Prince Adeyemi Adelaja, Vice Chairman, Community Development Committee (CDC) in Ijede LCDA, emphasized the need for a big market which can cater for a large number of goods to prevent Ijede residents from going outside the community all the time. He also called for more security measures, especially regarding the activities of “Bola boys” (Hausa guys that deal in scrapped materials) and the completion of Gbopa –Ijede Road.
Some of the CDA representatives that also spoke, called for more support from the council the CDC/CDAs, especially in terms of allowances.
Another concerned resident also urged the council to see to the uncertainties facing the construction of Ilupeju Road, while another charged the council to stop focusing on the allocation from the state and federal governments, and improve its revenue generations to cater for residents’ needs.
The representative of the League of Imams, Alhaji Akinjobi, charged the council on waste management and the need to provide official buses for the Ijede Muslim, Christian and traditional communities.
Imota youths, represented by the Coordinator of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), pleaded with the Ijede council authorities to give them a youth house with an ICT centre,
Other stakeholders demanded that the council should do more in making roads in Ijede more motorable and construction of drainages.
