The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State for the 2027 election, Senator Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli, has unveiled an ambitious development manifesto tagged ‘My Pact’, promising to grant local government autonomy from his first day in office if elected governor.
Alli also pledged to position Oyo State among the three leading state economies in Nigeria, establish a ₦10 billion youth development fund, and increase the state’s annual internally generated revenue (IGR) to ₦150 billion without imposing additional financial burdens on residents, traders and business owners.
The former lawmaker made the commitments on Tuesday while presenting his manifesto, built around a seven-point development framework known as Oyo AHEAD, to stakeholders drawn from different sectors of the state.
The event, held in Ibadan, attracted representatives of community development associations, professional bodies, artisans, traders, labour unions, political groups and other stakeholders, providing a platform for the APC candidate to outline his proposed policy direction and development priorities ahead of the 2027 governorship election.
Explaining the philosophy behind the manifesto, Alli said Oyo AHEAD represented a comprehensive pact with the people, designed to address critical governance challenges, strengthen public institutions, stimulate economic growth and ensure that the impact of government reaches communities across the state.
The seven pillars, according to him, cover local government autonomy, advancement of infrastructure, health reform, education and employment, agriculture and export, digital economy, and security.
He said the framework was intended to transform the state’s economy, improve the quality of public services and create an inclusive development structure in which residents, irrespective of their locations, could benefit from government policies and programmes.
Alli: Oyo has potential to feed South-West, export to global markets
Making a case for the proposed economic transformation, Alli described Oyo State as a state with enormous landmass, population and agricultural potential, arguing that its resources should translate into greater economic prosperity for residents.
He cited the state’s 351 wards, 33 local government areas and estimated population of about eight million, saying its agricultural capacity should make it a major food supplier to the South-West and an exporter of agricultural produce to international markets.
However, he expressed concern over the state’s revenue performance and poverty levels, claiming that Oyo generated less than ₦100 billion in IGR in the previous year, while neighbouring Ogun State generated almost three times that amount.
He also cited national statistics indicating that approximately 3.8 million residents of Oyo State live in poverty, arguing that the situation required a deliberate shift towards productive economic policies, investment and job creation.
According to him, the proposed ₦150 billion annual IGR target would be pursued through economic expansion and improved revenue administration rather than increased pressure on ordinary residents and businesses.
His words:
“Oyo State is the largest piece of land in southern Nigeria. We have 351 wards in 33 councils, and about eight million people. A state like ours should be feeding the South-West and selling to the world.
“Last year, this state raised less than ₦100 billion as IGR. Ogun, our neighbour, raised nearly three times that figure. Nearly half of our people, about 3.8 million, live in poverty, by the measure of our own national statistics office.
“Our people work hard every day. With the right support, they can do far better.
“So here is where we are going. We will make Oyo one of the top three state economies in Nigeria. Our first target on the way is ₦150 billion a year of our own revenue, and the market woman will pay no more than she pays today.”
He further outlined his proposed grassroots development vision, promising that every ward in the state would have access to a functional clinic, a standard school and a road that connects communities to economic opportunities.
He explained that the development model would be driven by the relationship between electricity, industrialisation, employment and improved household incomes, which he described as essential to expanding the state’s economic base.
“The path there is simple. Power brings the factory. The factory brings the job. The job brings money into the home and the market, and that revenue builds the school and the clinic,” he said.
Infrastructure, electricity and housing take centre stage
On infrastructure, the APC candidate promised to complete ongoing road projects and prioritise the construction of access roads linking farming communities to markets and processing facilities.
He said his administration would introduce a 20-year warranty on every newly constructed road, a proposal he presented as part of efforts to improve construction standards, accountability and the durability of public infrastructure.
Alli also pledged to fully constitute the Oyo State electricity regulator to strengthen the state’s capacity to participate in electricity generation and distribution under the applicable legal framework.
He said the proposed electricity reforms would focus on providing dedicated power supply to industrial and agricultural corridors, with the objective of reducing production costs, encouraging investment and supporting the growth of businesses.
According to him, faulty electricity transformers would undergo regular audits, while replacement arrangements would be implemented every six months to prevent communities from experiencing prolonged power outages.
On access to potable water, Alli expressed concern over the level of dependence on boreholes, wells and sachet water among households, promising to restore public water supply in 100 communities.
He also pledged to connect at least 100 rural communities to electricity for the first time, increase the number of buses operating across the state and modernise the Pacesetter Transport Company to improve public transportation.
The manifesto also placed emphasis on affordable housing, with Alli promising to collaborate with the Federal Government and private investors, including those based outside Nigeria, to provide decent and affordable homes for working families.
He identified teachers, nurses, young couples and other working residents as groups that should have opportunities to own decent homes without being priced out of the housing market.
He further promised to reduce the time and cost associated with building approvals and expand housing schemes targeting low- and middle-income earners.
Health sector: Six new general hospitals, more medical personnel
In the health sector, Alli promised to construct general hospitals in the six local government areas he identified as still requiring such facilities, as well as strengthen existing health institutions through the recruitment of doctors, nurses and other medical personnel.
He expressed concern over the reported shortage of doctors in some public hospitals, claiming that 10 hospitals in the state currently operate without a single medical doctor.
To address the manpower challenge, he pledged to ensure that vacancies in the health sector would be filled consistently as they arise, including in primary healthcare centres across the state.
The APC candidate also proposed an expansion of health insurance coverage, promising free health insurance 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’s health insurance programme from the stated current figure of 271,000 to 500,000 within its first two years.
The proposed intervention, he said, would be aimed at reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, improving access to essential medical services and protecting vulnerable residents from the financial consequences of illness.
Education, skills development and employment
On education, Alli promised to improve the learning environment through the recruitment of additional teachers, construction of more school facilities and a policy aimed at reducing classroom congestion to a maximum of 30 pupils per class.
He said improving the quality of education would require more than the provision of school buildings, stressing the importance of adequate teaching personnel, improved learning conditions and practical skills development.
He also promised to establish skills acquisition centres in every geopolitical zone of the state and introduce an apprenticeship law to provide a more structured framework for vocational training and skills transfer.
The proposed initiatives, according to him, would help young people acquire relevant technical and entrepreneurial skills, improve their employability and create pathways towards self-employment.
₦10bn youth fund, industrial parks and digital hubs
On economic development, investment and job creation, Alli outlined plans to establish industrial parks, revive the Oluyole Free Trade Zone and introduce a credit guarantee fund to improve access to financing for small businesses.
A major component of the economic agenda is the proposed Oyo Youth Fund, which he said would commence with an initial ₦10 billion allocation to support young entrepreneurs, businesses and employment-generating initiatives.
He also promised to establish digital hubs across the state’s five geopolitical zones, describing digital innovation and technology-driven enterprise as important instruments for preparing young people for emerging economic opportunities.
The proposed digital hubs are expected to provide platforms for skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship and participation in the expanding digital economy.
For small and medium-sized enterprises, Alli said the proposed guarantee fund would help address difficulties in accessing credit and enable viable businesses to obtain financing for expansion, equipment and employment generation.
The industrialisation component of the manifesto, he added, would be pursued through the development of industrial parks and the revival of the Oluyole Free Trade Zone to attract investors, stimulate production and create jobs.
Agriculture and export: Alli promises revival of farm settlements
Agriculture, which remains a major economic activity across several parts of Oyo State, also occupies a prominent position in the Oyo AHEAD manifesto.
Alli promised to revive the state’s farm settlements, strengthen support for farmers and introduce measures to improve agricultural productivity, food processing and access to local and international markets.
He also pledged to provide insurance coverage for 10,000 farmers to protect them against production-related risks and encourage greater investment in farming.
The proposed Oyo Export Council, he said, would establish a produce board to support farmers, facilitate the marketing of agricultural commodities and create better opportunities for the export of locally produced goods.
The initiative is expected to complement his broader ambition of positioning Oyo State as a major agricultural production and export centre, particularly by connecting farmers to markets, processing opportunities and wider commercial networks.
Security, workers’ welfare and public service delivery
On security, the APC candidate promised to restructure the state’s security architecture to strengthen the protection of lives and property.
He said effective security remained fundamental to economic development, investment, agricultural productivity and the general wellbeing of residents, adding that communities must be safe enough for people to pursue their livelihoods without fear.
Alli also addressed the welfare of civil servants, promising regular payment of salaries, allowances and other entitlements as and when due.
He pledged to provide public servants with appropriate working tools and improve their working environments to enhance productivity and strengthen the efficiency of government institutions.
According to him, a productive public service is essential to the successful implementation of development policies, noting that workers must be adequately equipped and motivated to deliver quality services to the people.
A manifesto built around measurable development targets
Beyond its individual sectoral promises, the Oyo AHEAD manifesto presents Alli’s proposed governance model as one that links local government administration, infrastructure, healthcare, education, agriculture, technology, security and economic expansion.
The promise to grant local government autonomy from the first day of his administration, if elected, stands out as one of the manifesto’s major political and governance commitments.
The pledge is particularly significant in view of continuing national conversations about financial and administrative independence for local governments and the need to strengthen grassroots governance.
Similarly, the proposed ₦10 billion youth fund, ₦150 billion annual IGR target, expansion of health insurance coverage to 500,000 people within two years, and planned interventions in rural electricity, water supply and agricultural insurance provide specific targets against which the candidate’s proposals could be assessed.
