Senator Gbenga Daniel pledges to transform Ijebu East’s bitumen reserves into engines of growth and jobs, declaring that the BATOGD Movement is a people-driven platform for Renewed Hope, accountability, and progress
Renewed Hope in Action: Sen. Gbenga Daniel Reignites Bitumen Potentials in Ijebu-East, Says BATOGD Movement’s Mission Goes Beyond Politics
Senator Otunba Gbenga Daniel (OGD) has reaffirmed his commitment to harnessing the abundant bitumen resources in Ijebu East as engines of industrial growth, job creation, and lasting prosperity for the Ogun East Senatorial District.
Speaking during the BATOGD Midterm Community Assessment and Review (MIDCAR) Tour in Ijebu East on Sunday, the former Ogun State Governor declared that the BATOGD Movement is not merely a political campaign but a structured grassroots engagement platform for accountability, empowerment, and progress.
“The MIDCAR Tour is not just a political rally,” Senator Daniel said. “It is a listening and feedback session — a people’s audit of our promises, progress, and partnerships with the Federal Government. Our movement is about governance built on engagement, transparency, and results.”
The Ogun East Senator, fondly called OGD, explained that the BATOGD Movement serves as a vital bridge between the people and the government, providing citizens with direct insight into how President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda is shaping lives and communities across the nation.
Senator Daniel revisited the long-standing vision of harnessing Ijebu East’s massive bitumen reserves — a dream first conceived during his tenure as governor.
“During my time as Governor, we discovered that Ogun East holds the largest deposit of bitumen in Nigeria,” Daniel recalled. “Our dream then was to build a city of industries powered by bitumen exploration and processing. Sadly, that vision stalled after my administration — but not anymore.”
He disclosed that through renewed federal collaboration, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, under Mr. Dele Alake, is now working towards reviving the bitumen project in line with President Tinubu’s reform-driven mining policy.
“Dele Alake has assured me that the bitumen wealth of Ijebu East will soon be put to productive use,” he revealed. “Under President Tinubu, the mining sector’s revenue has grown from ₦6 billion to ₦38 billion in just one year — proof of a leadership that delivers results.”
Daniel hailed Tinubu’s directive that mining licences will henceforth be granted only to investors who commit to local processing and value addition — a move he described as “a practical demonstration of the Renewed Hope Agenda in motion.”
The Senator emphasized that while pursuing large-scale industrial projects, his representation has remained deliberate, inclusive, and people-focused.
Among the community-driven interventions he highlighted were: a solar-powered borehole installed in Igbaga, Ijebu-Imushin; skills acquisition training and microcredit schemes for small businesses; interest-free loans and startup kits for entrepreneurs, and Free medical and eye-care outreach benefiting over 4,000 residents across Ogun East.
“Real development must be inclusive, people-driven, and sustainable — reaching from the top to the very last household,” he noted.
Senator Daniel reaffirmed his confidence that, with the support of the Federal Government and strategic partnerships, the bitumen project would soon transform Ijebu East into a thriving industrial hub.
“We will turn our God-given blessings into lasting prosperity for this generation and the next,” he vowed. “Ijebu East will soon stand as a symbol of Nigeria’s new industrial renaissance.”
He further assured that the BATOGD Movement will continue to serve as a bridge between policy and people — amplifying citizens’ voices, promoting accountability, and ensuring that governance delivers real value to the grassroots.
“This movement goes beyond politics,” Daniel concluded. “It is about partnership, purpose, and progress — Renewed Hope in action.” Read More
