YEAR OF UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES

Being the Text of the 2026 New Year State Broadcast
by His Excellency, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, Governor of Ekiti State, Nigeria

Government House| Ado-Ekiti | Thursday, January 1, 2026

1.⁠ ⁠Ekiti Kete, the Year 2026 is here, and it is my greatest pleasure to welcome you into this wonderful year. We should all be thankful to God for the privilege of life.

2.⁠ ⁠I want to joyfully congratulate you on witnessing another promising year despite the numerous challenges that daily confront us; we have to thank God for seeing us through 2025. Unlike the year before, last year was a great year for us as a State. We witnessed sociopolitical stability, improved security, and economic prosperity.

3.⁠ ⁠I therefore want to deeply express my profound appreciation to you for your continuous support for our administration. Despitef the challenges that come with being a leader, your generosity of spirit, consistent prayers, and remarkable cooperation have always been an easing balm that has made our job easier. I therefore want to thank you most sincerely for standing with and by us at all times.

4.⁠ ⁠EKITI KETE, THIS DAY LAST YEAR, I ADDRESSED YOU IN A SPEECH I ENTITLED, YEAR OF ACCELERATED DEVELOPMENT, DURING WHICH I STATED THAT OUR GOAL FOR THE YEAR 2025 WOULD BE TO ACCELERATE THE COMPLETION OF ALL ONGOING PROJECTS OF GOVERNMENT. SOME OF THE PROJECTS WERE INHERITED, AND MANY OTHERS WERE STARTED BY OUR ADMINISTRATION. I AM EXCITED TO REPORT THAT WE HAVE MADE A REMARKABLE PROGRESS AS MANY OF THE PROJECTS HAVE BEEN CONCLUDED AND COMMISSIONED AS PART OF THE CELEBRATION OF OUR THREE YEARS IN OFFICE. A FEW ARE STILL ONGOING AND ARE TO BE DELIVERED BEFORE THE END OF THIS CURRENT TERM OF OFFICE.

5.⁠ ⁠IN 2025, WE COMPLETED THE FOLLOWING ROADS: IKOLE-ARA-ISINBODE, IKERE-ILAWE, IKERE-IGBARA-ODO, ADO-IWOROKO-IFAKI, THE FIRST PHASE OF THE RING ROAD, IGBARA ODO-IKOGOSI, ITAPA-OMU-IJELU, IKERE-ISE, ITAWURE-OKEMESI, AJABANDELE-DEEPER-LIFE-ALASIA-OMISANJANA, BOVAS-SPOTLESS HOTEL, ADO-EKITI, MARYLAND AVENUE, GRA, III EXTENSION DUALISATION (PHASE II), AND MANY OTHERS. THESE WERE APART FROM OTHER ROADS THAT WERE COMPLETED IN 202,4, SUCH AS: DE-HEAD – FAGLO BASIRI, AGRIC OLOPE, IKOLE TOWNSHIP ROADS, MOFERERE STREET ROAD, OKEIYIMIN-OKEILA ROAD, ERIJIYAN-ILAWE LINK ROAD, ILAWE-IBUJI BOUNDARY REHABILITATION.

YEAR OF UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES

6.⁠ ⁠LET ME USE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO CONGRATULATE ALL OF US FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THE EKITI AGRO-ALLIED INTERNATIONAL CARGO AIRPORT AND THE COMMENCEMENT OF COMMERCIAL FLIGHTS ABOUT TWENTY DAYS AGO. WITH THE AIRPORT NOW OPERATING, OUR STATE IS OPEN TO MORE ECONOMIC GROWTH THROUGH INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES, TOURISM DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPORT POTENTIAL.

7.⁠ ⁠IN THE CURRENT YEAR, WE WILL ACCELERATE WORK ON THE 2ND OVERHEAD BRIDGE ONGOING IN ADO EKITI. THE FIRST PHASE OF THE RING ROAD PROJECT HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND COMMISSIONED. WE HOPE THAT THE SECOND PHASE WILL COMMENCE SOON.
8.⁠ ⁠SIMILARLY, THE YEAR 2026 WILL WITNESS MASSIVE TOWNSHIP ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND REHABILITATION. AS IT HAS BEEN INDICATED IN THE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR, WE WILL BE EMBARKING ON A LARGE-SCALE ROAD REHABILITATION PROJECTS ACROSS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS AND COMMUNITIES.

9.⁠ ⁠IN THE JUST CONCLUDED YEAR, WE WERE ABLE TO CONNECT MORE COMMUNITIES TO ELECTRICITY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF TRANSFORMERS AND THE REHABILITATION OF EXISTING FACILITIES AT ITAMO, IDI AGBA, MARYLAND AVENUE, GRA 3RD EXTENSION, AND IBUKUNOLUWA/ASUNGBOWOOLA AREAS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE HAVE COMPLETED THE EXTENSION OF ELECTRICITY FROM ERUKU KWARA STATE TO THE AGRIC PROCESSING ZONE AT IYEMERO AXIS. WE HAVE SIMILARLY COMPLETED THE CONNECTION OF OKEMESI AND ENVIRONS TO THE 33KV NETWORK FROM IJEBU-JESA. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH SUSTAINABLE POWER AND IRRIGATION IN NIGERIA (SPIN), IN CONSTRUCTING 2 X 60 MVA TRANSMISSION STATIONS IN IKERE-EKITI, IJESA-I, SU, AND ILUPEJU-EKITI RESPECTIVELY. WE HAVE ALSO PAID COMPENSATION TO AFFECTED PERSONS ON THE RIGHT OF WAYS TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE PROJECT.

10.⁠ ⁠OUR COMMITMENT TO THE TOTAL OVERHAULING OF OUR HEALTH SYSTEM HAS REMAINED ON COURSE. IN THE LAST YEAR, MORE GENERAL HOSPITAL FACILITIES IN IFAKI, IJAN, IYE, ILUPEJU, OKEMESI, ILAWE, OTUN, EFON, AND MANY OTHERS HAVE BEEN GIVEN COMPREHENSIVE REHABILITATION AND RE-EQUIPMENT. THE 20 BASIC HEALTH CLINIC THAT WERE SELECTED FOR TOTAL REHABILITATION ACROSS THE STATE HAVE ALSO BEEN COMPLETED AND SUBSEQUENTLY PUT INTO USE.

11.⁠ ⁠SO FAR, WE HAVE REHABILITATED AND RE-EQUIPPED OVER 100 BASIC HEALTH CLINICS ACROSS THE STATE. FURTHERMORE, OUR PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY AND EFFECTIVE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM HAVE ENSURED THAT WE DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY OUTBREAK OF EPIDEMIC DISEASE IN THE STATE IN THE COURSE OF LAST YEAR. WE WILL REMAIN FOCUSED, VIGILANT, AND RESPONSIVE TO THE HEALTH OF OUR PEOPLE.

12.⁠ ⁠EKITI KETE, WHILE WE ARE THANKFUL TO GOD FOR THE REMARKABLE ACHIEVEMENTS WE HAVE RECORDED IN THE YEAR 2025, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT WE WILL EXPAND ON THE CURRENT ACHIEVEMENTS AND SET HIGHER BARS IN THE CURRENT YEAR.

13.⁠ ⁠MEANWHILE, THE RURAL ACCESS AND AGRICULTURAL MARKETING PROJECT (RAAMP) IS CURRENTLY CONSTRUCTING RURAL ROADS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF EKITI, TOTALING ABOUT 100 KILOMETERS. SOME OF THE ROADS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED, WHILE SOME ARE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF COMPLETION. THE SECOND PHASE OF THE PROJECT WILL COMMENCE VERY SOON.

14.⁠ ⁠AS I PROMISED IN MY SPEECH LAST YEAR, WE HAVE, IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PRIVATE ENTITY, BEGUN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADO-EKITI CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT WITH THE COMMENCEMENT OF WORK AT ATIKANKAN AS PART OF OUR URBAN DEVELOPMENT PLAN. WE HAVE ALSO STARTED THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE EKITI INTERNATIONAL CULTURAL CENTER TO MEET OUR ASPIRATION TO CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ARTISTIC AND CULTURAL INDUSTRY OF OUR PEOPLE. IN ADDITION, WORK IS PROGRESSING IMPRESSIVELY AT THE MULTIPURPOSE INDOOR SPORTS COMPLEX TO ENCOURAGE INDOOR GAMES, BUILD TALENTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES IN THE STATE. THE OLUYEMI KAYODE STADIUM, ADO-EKITI IS ALSO UNDERGOING MASSIVE REHABILITATION AND MODERNIZATION. THE STADIUM WILL SOON BE READY TO SERVE OUR ENERGETIC AND TALENTED YOUTHS IN SPORTS DEVELOPMENT. ALL THESE PROJECTS ARE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WITHIN THE CURRENT YEAR.

15.⁠ ⁠THE EDUCATION SECTOR WILL CONTINUE TO RECEIVE PRIORITY ATTENTION IN QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE TERMS. THE RECENT EMPLOYMENT OF ABOUT TWO THOUSAND TEACHERS IN THE PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE UNDERSCORES OUR COMMITMENT TO THE PROVISION OF QUALITY EDUCATION. WE WILL CONTINUE THE ONGOING TOTAL REHABILITATION OF SCHOOLS, INCREASE SCHOOL AND INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL SUPPLY AS WELL AS ENHANCE TEACHERS’ CAPACITY THROUGH CONTINUOUS TRAINING, RE-TRAINING, AND ENHANCED WELFARE.

16.⁠ ⁠I AM GLAD TO INFORM YOU THAT OUR VISION FOR THE ACTUALIZATION OF EKITI KNOWLEDGE ZONE IS ALREADY ON TRACK AS INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT HAS COMMENCED. IT IS OUR HOPE THAT BY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WORK WILL HAVE REACHED AN APPRECIABLE LEVEL IN THE FIRST PHASE. THE SPECIAL AGRIC PROCESSING ZONE WOULD ALSO TAKE OFF VERY SOON.

17.⁠ ⁠OUR AGRICULTURE RENEWAL POLICY OF BRINGING BACK THE YOUTHS IN AGRICULTURE PROJECTS, INCLUDING THE VARIOUS LIVESTOCK HUBS AND THE YSJ AGRICULTURE PROGRAMMES IN SUCH LOCATIONS AS OKE-AKO, IYEMERO, EPORO, ISE, IKERE, ARAMOKO/ERIO, OSE/EMURE, ADO, AND GEDE HAVE CONTINUED TO YIELD EXCELLENT RESULTS. APART FROM THE MASSIVE AVAILABILITY OF FOO,D WHICH HAS LED TO AN UNPRECEDENTED DRASTIC REDUCTION IN HEADLINE INFLATION ON FOOD ITEMS IN EKITI STATE, THE PROJECT IS ALREADY MAKING MILLIONAIRES OF HITHERTO UNEMPLOYED YOUTHS.

18.⁠ ⁠JUST ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, I DISTRIBUTED N1.4BILLION, AS PROFIT FOR THE YEAR TO THE PARTICIPATING YOUTHS IN THE BRING-BACK-THE YOUTHS-IN AGRICULTURE PROJECT. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT MICRO-ECONOMIC POLICY SUCCESS FOR US AS A STATE. IT WOULD BE RECALLED THAT EKITI HAD ALWAYS BEEN VERY NOTORIOUS FOR HAVING THE HIGHEST FOOD PRICE INFLATION IN THE SOUTH WEST, A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE PARADOX THAT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REVERSE WITH THIS PROGRAMME.

19.⁠ ⁠WITH THE EXCITING RESULT THAT WE HAVE RECEIVED, I AM MORE THAN ENCOURAGED TO INVEST FURTHER IN THE PROJECT AND TO EXPAND THE LINES AND COHORTS IN THE NEW YEAR. I WANT TO, THEREFORE, ENCOURAGE MORE OF OUR YOUTHS TO KEY IN, ON THIS PROGRAM AND TAKE THE UNLIMITED OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE INHERENT IN THE PROJECT.

20.⁠ ⁠LET ME ASSURE ALL EKITI PEOPLE THAT YOUR SECURITY REMAINS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY. I AM WELL AWARE OF YOUR CONCERNS ABOUT THE SECURITY OF OUR STATE IN THE LIGHT OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN OUR NEIGHBOURING STATES. BUT REST ASSURED THAT WE ARE VERY DELIBERATE, PROACTIVE AND STRATEGIC IN THE SECURITY OF OUR STATE. BY GOD’S GRACE, EKITI WILL CONTINUE TO KNOW PEACE.

21.⁠ ⁠SIMILARLY, I WANT TO REGISTER MY APPRECIATION TO ALL THE POLITICAL STAKEHOLDERS IN THE STATE FOR THE MATURITY WITH WHICH WE ARE PLAYING OUR ELECTORAL POLITICS. I WANT TO CALL ON ALL INTERESTED PARTIES, THAT AS WE GO TO THE POLL IN JUNE FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION, WE SHOULD DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE NOT TO UNDERMINE THE SECURITY OF THE STATE. ON MY PART AS THE INCUMBENT GOVERNOR AND CANDIDATE OF THE APC, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU THAT I WILL ENSURE THE POLITICAL ARENA IS FREE OF INTIMIDATION AND UNHEALTHY POLITICAL ACTIVITIES THAT CAN POTENTIALLY IGNITE VIOLENCE. I URGE ALL PARTY LEADERS AND CANDIDATES TO TOE THE SAME LINE.

22.⁠ ⁠BEFORE I END THIS BROADCAST, LET ME APPRECIATE ALL THE GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WHO ARE WORKING WITH ME, ESPECIALLY MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AND THE HONOURABLE MEMBERS OF THE EKITI STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY FOR THEIR COOPERATION AND SUPPORT. I WANT TO THANK THE EKITI STATE WORKERS, UNIONS ACROSS MINISTRIES, DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES FOR THEIR COOPERATION AND UNDERSTANDING WHICH HAVE BROUGHT ABOUT PEACEFUL INDUSTRIAL ATMOSPHERE.

23.⁠ ⁠My profound appreciation to our leaders at all levels, especially former governors, former deputy governors, former and current members of the National Assembly ably led by the Leader of the Senate, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, former and current leaders of the state’s legislative and judicial arms of government, party leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders and leaders of other segments of the State too numerous to mention.

24.⁠ ⁠More importantly, I want to express my deepest gratitude to the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for his special interest in our dear State and his fatherly support to us at all times. I am specially grateful for his approval for immediate re-construction of the Itawure-Aramoko-Ado road as the contractor has moved to site. I want to extend my appreciation to the Federal Government and its agencies in Ekiti for their cooperation. Many thanks to our development and financial partners for their continuous support to us.

25.⁠ ⁠Let me also sincerely register my profound appreciation to all Ekiti people both home and abroad for their goodwill. I am deeply touched by your show of love and solidarity. I am grateful for your advice, prayers, suggestions and constructive criticisms.

26.⁠ ⁠As I end this first New Year address, I want to once again thank our traditional, religious and community leaders for the critical roles they play at all times. I would like to continue to solicit your support and cooperation in the New Year. I thank everyone who has been of help in the past, just as we look forward to more opportunities for support and cooperation in year 2026.

27.⁠ ⁠Thank you. Happy and prosperous New Year for you all.
God bless Ekiti State!

‘Biodun Oyebanji
Governor,
Ekiti State, Nigeria