A bill seeking the integration and development of the rural and semi- urban areas in Ogun State today scaled through second reading on the floor of the State House of Assembly.

Opening debate on the bill titled: H.B. NO. 010/ OG/ 2023- Ogun State Rural and Semi Urban integration and development bill, 2023, during its second reading stage, the sponsor, Hon. Babatunde Tella, noted that it was meant to focus on grassroot development, stem rural- urban migration, boost agriculture and develop the rural communities and the inhabitants.

Hon. Tella explained that qualitative development required bottom-up approach, with rural areas and semi-urban as focus, while canvassing for allocation of 40% of resources meant for infrastructural development to be channelled to the development of rural areas in the State.

Corroborating the Sponsor, other lawmakers including Speaker Olakunle Oluomo, Minority Leader Lukman Adeleye, Honourables Adebisi Oyedele, Lawal Adekunle, Oluseun Adesanya, Adegoke Adeyanju and Folawewo Salami, stated that the bill was targeted towards promoting even development in all parts of the State, as rural communities costituted over 90% part of the State.

They posited that rural communities in the State required more government’s presence to advance development, boost food production and create more employment opportunities.

In a other development, the Speaker has appealed to the relevant National Emergency Management Agency ( NEMA) through the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) to help provide relief materials to the victims of rain storm that wreaked havoc recently in Ijebu-East State Constituency in response to the presentation of a member representing the area, Hon. Waliu Owode, who lamented that the incident affected over 500 buildings in the Constituency.

Also, a member representing Remo North State Constituency, Hon. Dickson Awolaja, lauded the efforts of the State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu for fortifying security in around the campus of the Gateway ICT Polytechnic, Saapade, where some students and residents were robbed and attacked recently; calling for more security networks to protect the residents.

Meanwhile, the Assembly has equally condemned the alleged gruesome murder of an SSS1 female student in Ipokia Local Government by an unidentified policeman, and thus called on the police authorities to fish out the culprit.

The Speaker, who made the call while responding to the submission of a member representing Ipokia/ Idiroko State Constituency, Hon. Adebisi Oyedele, who reported the incident at the plenary, called on the police authorities to continue to train its officers on decorum, especially as it relates to the rule of engagement in the use of firearms.

The Assembly had earlier extolled the virtues of the late industrialist, Chief Chris Ogunbajo, describing him as an illustrious son of the State and the nation, while commiserating with the family over his demise in response to the presentation of a member representing Ijebu North- East, Hon. Oluseun Adesanya.