Ogun State Government through the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure says it has set aside a total of N62.65bn for the construction, rehabilitation and reconstruction of existing and new township roads as well as other inter/intra roads statewide in the next fiscal year.

The State Commissioner, Engr. Ade Adesanya said this, while fielding questions  from the members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by Hon. Olakunle Sobukanla during the ongoing 2023 budget defence session at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. 

Adesanya defended a total budget expenditure of N115.250bn for next year, out of which the construction of the ongoing Airport at Iperu would take N52.2bn, while N250.7m would cater for recurrent expenditure, 

He added that that remaining part of the total budget would be spent on road construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation, with expected revenue target for the year fixed at N30.4m.

The Commissioner added that efforts were in top gear for the grading of more rural roads and monitoring of contractors on roads across the three Senatorial Districts. 

In another development, the State Commissioner for Forestry, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun presented the 2023 budgetary estimate of the Ministry, canvassing for the support of the State Assembly for the enactment of an enabling law to curb illegal activities including deforestation and crimes against wildlife in the forest reserves.

According to Oludotun, the law became necessary owing to the effect of deforestation on the ecosystem and loss of revenue to the State, which in turn affects the source of people's legal means of livelihood. 

Presenting the Ministry's budget for next year, the Commissioner proposed a total budget proposal of N1.46bn consisting of N790m for capital projects and proposed recurrent expenditure of N670m, while N253m was expected as revenue in the next fiscal year.

On its part, the Project Manager, Ogun State Forestry Plantation Project (Area- J4) Mr. W. B. Adebesin, said the project would ensure the establishment of additional 155ha of Teak and Gmelina plantations  and coppice management of 100ha of logged area for regeneration and exploitation for increased revenue generation for government.

Adebesin added that efforts were being intensified to reduce illegal activities and ensure proper and adequate monitoring and patrol of the plantations as well as rehabilitation of 15km out of the 420km plantation Road network within the enclave to ensure smooth operations and accessibility by potential customers.