The Ondo State government’s domestic debt profile has dropped by 82.6 per cent in the first 18 months, representing the highest percentage reduction recorded by any state in Nigeria, it was disclosed. Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, through his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed this at the maiden edition of the quarterly media briefing held... The post Ondo Beats Others In Nation’s Debt Reduction – Aiyedatiwa appeared first on New Telegraph .
The Ondo State government’s domestic debt profile has dropped by 82.6 per cent in the first 18 months, representing the highest percentage reduction recorded by any state in Nigeria, it was disclosed.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, through his Chief Press Secretary, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, disclosed this at the maiden edition of the quarterly media briefing held at the NUJ Press Centre, Akure, where he disclosed the administration’s scorecard since Aiyedatiwa assumed office on February 24, 2025.
Adeniyan attributed the reduction to prudent financial management, fiscal discipline and effective debt management strategies, noting that the administration had also cleared all outstanding salary arrears owed to workers and former political office holders, as well as about 10 years of gratuity arrears owed to pensioners.
He said the measures put in place had enabled the administration to pursue its “Our Ease” agenda, centred on ease of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure, health, education, agriculture, security, youth and women empowerment, and public service reform.
He said the central idea is to put the people first, deliver projects that matter and build a foundation for sustainable growth.
According to him, the administration’s achievements over the period cut across healthcare, road infrastructure, education, urban renewal, water supply, power, agriculture, industrialisation, employment, workers’ welfare and security.
Adeniyan said the State Executive Council had also approved a US$1.6 million, 350-kilowatt hydropower project and a 7.5-megawatt gas-fired turbine to power government facilities across the state, while the administration had commenced distribution of transformers to communities to improve electricity supply.
Beyond infrastructure and utilities, Adeniyan said agriculture remained central to the administration’s economic development strategy, with the focus on large-scale investment, food security, value-chain development and farmer support.
The government was opening up large areas of farmland, attracting private investors, ensuring EU-compliant cocoa production for international markets and constructing rural roads to facilitate the movement of farm produce.
He said the governor had also inaugurated the Ondo State Cocoa Revolution and Management Board to sustain the state’s position as Nigeria’s leading cocoa producer, while the State Strategic Committee on EU Deforestation-Free Regulation Compliance had been inaugurated.
Adeniyan said the agricultural push was part of the administration’s broader economic transformation agenda, which also included industrialisation and efforts to attract major investments towards the development of the Ondo Deep Sea Port, refinery, Free Trade Zone and fertiliser plant, while supporting SMEs and agro-processing industries.
He said the administration’s policy reforms were designed to make Ondo State an attractive investment destination where businesses could operate with confidence, create jobs and diversify government revenue.
“These efforts contributed significantly to the return of the Dangote Group to the state, with plans to establish Nigeria’s largest industrial zone in Ondo State,” he said.
