Ondo Govt Transfers Akure Hospital to FUTA, Rolls Out New Agriculture and Infrastructure Policies
The Ondo State Government has approved the transfer of the University of Medical Sciences (UNIMED) Teaching Hospital complex in Akure to the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), to serve as its College of Medicine and Teaching Hospital.
The decision was taken at Thursday’s State Executive Council meeting, chaired by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, and announced to journalists at a post-council briefing in Akure.
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Banji Ajaka, explained that the move followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s approval for FUTA to establish a College of Medicine and a Teaching Hospital.
He noted that the transfer covers infrastructure, equipment, staff, and liabilities, stressing that all employees of the Akure complex will be absorbed into the new FUTA Teaching Hospital under federal management.
“This handover is not just an administrative adjustment,” Dr. Ajaka said. “It is a strategic investment that will enhance healthcare delivery in Ondo State and position FUTA as a leading centre for medical education and research in Nigeria.”
Also speaking, Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola, outlined measures approved by the Council to shield farmers from the impact of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
The EUDR, which comes into full effect in December 2025, bans the importation of cocoa, cashew, oil palm, rubber, and other commodities linked to deforested land.
To safeguard livelihoods, the government has introduced agroforestry practices across selected forests while ensuring that reserved areas remain protected. Farmers will be required to operate under strict mapping and traceability systems to maintain access to international markets.
“By December 30, 2025, any crop that cannot be traced to a mapped farm will be rejected at the EU market,” Akinola warned. “The state will therefore provide farm mapping support and issue operational permits to ensure farmers remain compliant.”
He added that the council also approved a review of tariffs on agricultural produce and timber to align Ondo with other Southwest states under the DAWN Commission’s regional framework.
On infrastructure, Commissioner for Information, Mr. Idowu Ajanaku, disclosed that the council directed each cabinet member to nominate one road project in their respective local government areas.
According to him, the initiative is designed to directly impact grassroots communities and ensure even distribution of infrastructure projects across all 18 local government areas of the state.
“These roads are outside the 2025 budgeted projects,” Ajanaku clarified. “They are supplementary interventions to enhance connectivity and touch communities in a meaningful way.”
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Hamidu Takuro, announced that the council ratified the appointment of His Royal Highness Joseph Ilésanmí as the traditional ruler of Sosan in Akoko South-East Local Government.
The meeting, which covered health, agriculture, infrastructure, and traditional leadership, reflects the government’s push to balance socioeconomic reforms with grassroots development.
