The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has unveiled a seven-point development agenda, promising to grant local government autonomy from his first day in office if elected in 2027.
Alli also pledged to make Oyo State one of Nigeria’s three leading state economies, raise its internally generated revenue (IGR) to ₦150 billion annually without imposing additional burdens on residents and businesses, and establish a ₦10 billion youth development fund.
He made the commitments on Tuesday while unveiling his manifesto, titled “My Pact,” to stakeholders drawn from community development associations, professional bodies, artisans, traders, political groups, labour organisations and other sectors of the state.
Explaining the policy document at the event in Ibadan, Alli said his development agenda was anchored on seven pillars under the acronym Oyo AHEAD, covering local government autonomy, infrastructure advancement, healthcare reform, education and employment, agriculture and export development, the digital economy and security.
He said the agenda was designed to transform the state’s economy, improve public service delivery and ensure that residents across all parts of Oyo State feel the impact of governance.
Presenting his vision, Alli described Oyo as the largest state by land area in southern Nigeria, with 351 wards across 33 local government areas and an estimated population of about eight million people.
He argued that the state had the potential to become a major food-producing and exporting centre in the South-West if its agricultural and economic resources were properly harnessed.
According to him, Oyo State generated less than ₦100 billion in IGR in the preceding year, while neighbouring Ogun State reportedly generated nearly three times that amount.
He also cited national poverty statistics, which he said showed that about 3.8 million residents of Oyo State were living in poverty.
“All these show that our people work hard every day, but with the right support, they can do far better,” he said.
Alli explained that his administration would pursue the ₦150 billion annual revenue target through economic expansion and improved revenue generation rather than placing additional financial pressure on traders, market women, residents and business owners.
He further promised that every one of the state’s 351 wards would have a functional clinic, an effective school and accessible roads.
Infrastructure, Power and Housing
On infrastructure, the APC candidate promised to complete ongoing road projects and construct access roads to farming communities to ease the movement of people and agricultural produce.
He also proposed a 20-year warranty for every newly constructed road, alongside measures to improve electricity supply to industrial and agricultural corridors.
Alli said he would fully constitute the state electricity regulator to enable Oyo to generate and distribute electricity for critical economic activities.
He added that faulty transformers would be audited and replaced every six months to prevent communities from experiencing prolonged power outages.
On water supply, he promised to restore potable water to 100 communities and connect at least 100 rural communities to electricity for the first time.
He also pledged to increase the number of state buses and modernise the Pacesetter Transport Company to improve public transportation.
In the housing sector, Alli promised to collaborate with the Federal Government and private investors to provide affordable homes for low- and middle-income earners.
He said his administration would simplify building approval processes, reduce associated costs and expand housing schemes to enable more families to own decent homes.
Healthcare and Education
On healthcare, Alli promised to establish a general hospital in each of the six local government areas he identified as still requiring such facilities.
He also pledged to recruit more doctors and other health professionals, noting that, according to him, 10 hospitals in the state currently operate without a medical doctor.
He promised that vacancies in the health sector, including those in primary healthcare centres, would be filled as they arise.
The governorship candidate further proposed free health insurance coverage for infants, pregnant women and residents aged 70 and above.
He said his administration would target an increase in the number of people enrolled in the state health insurance scheme from the current 271,000 to 500,000 within its first two years.
In education, Alli promised to limit class sizes to 30 pupils, recruit additional teachers, provide more school facilities and establish skills acquisition centres in every geopolitical zone of the state.
He also pledged to introduce an apprenticeship law to strengthen vocational training and equip young people with practical skills for employment and entrepreneurship.
Economy, Youth Development and Agriculture
On economic growth and job creation, Alli promised to establish industrial parks, revive the Oluyole Free Trade Zone and introduce a guarantee fund to improve access to credit for small businesses.
A major component of his economic agenda is the proposed Oyo Youth Fund, which he said would commence with ₦10 billion to support young entrepreneurs and business development.
He also promised to establish digital hubs across the five geopolitical zones of the state to expand opportunities in technology and the digital economy.
In agriculture, the APC candidate pledged to revive farm settlements, provide insurance coverage for 10,000 farmers and establish a produce board through the proposed Oyo Export Council to support farmers and improve access to markets.
Security and Workers’ Welfare
Alli said his proposed administration would restructure the state’s security architecture to strengthen the protection of lives and property.
He also assured civil servants that salaries and entitlements would be paid as and when due, while promising to provide them with appropriate working tools and a conducive work environment to improve productivity.
Earlier, the APC State Chairman, Chief Moses Adeyemo, represented by his deputy, Dr Taofeek Lamidi, described the party in Oyo State as one united family.
He said party stakeholders had aligned with all its candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The event was attended by the Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe; Chief Dotun Sanusi; the immediate past Chief of Staff to the Oyo State Governor, Mr Segun Ogunwuyi; and other political leaders and stakeholders.
