The Ekiti State Government has approved over N3 billion for land clearing, purchase of medical equipment at the multipurpose building at Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado-Ekiti, and other projects in the state.
The approval was issued at the state executive council meeting chaired by Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Friday.
Commissioner for Information in the state, Taiwo Olatunbosun, disclosed that N3,113,554,788.10 was for the supply and installation of medical equipment at the multipurpose building at the EKSUTH and N223,886,228.78 as facilitator’s fees for the provision of essential equipment and facilities to MSME/ICT hub project.
Also, the sum of N234,468,218.50 was approved for the construction of six security houses and the renovation of two existing buildings as security houses at some selected farm settlements in the state.
In a bid to promote agriculture and empower youth, the government also allocated N264,800,000 for the clearing of 200 hectares of land for youth in agriculture in Ado and Ekiti-West local government areas.
Additionally, the state also approved N2.35bn for the clearing of 1,000 hectares of land as part of the Youth in Agriculture programme. This initiative will also support dry-season farming for specific communities and cooperatives.
The 23 vendors selected for the project are expected to complete the task within three months to enable planting in the current year.
Locations for the project include Aramoko, Ogbese, Ise, Iyemero, Ikere, Oke Ako, and several other farm settlements in Ekiti.
The state government has also approved the implementation of the Ekiti State Youth Policy, a comprehensive strategy designed to empower the state’s youth for national development.
The policy, covering the period from 2024 to 2028, will be implemented by various public and private sector stakeholders, including state actors and non-governmental organisations.
Also, the government has approved the repeal of the Ekiti State Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Sector Law No. 2 of 2021, replacing it with the Ekiti State Water Resources, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Sector Law 2024.
The new law aims to regulate and improve water, sanitation, and hygiene services within the state.