Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji has reiterated his administration's commitment to investing in agriculture to ensure food security and economic development in the state.
The governor said his administration will address widespread food shortages experienced across the country in the outgoing year starting in 2025 with investment support for the state's farmers.
Oyebanji, represented by the Commissioner for Finance, Akin Oyebode, spoke during a two-day inclusive stakeholder meeting for the establishment, adoption and implementation of the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA).
The program titled: “Inclusive Dialogue for Sustainable Land Governance for Agricultural Investment” was organized by the Ministry of Land and Urban Development of Ekiti State, with the support of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) and the World Bank .
He said his administration's efforts to strengthen harmony between farmers, investors and landowners were already having the desired multiplier effect in the agricultural belts of the state, particularly in the Oke Ako-Iyemero-Gede axis where enhanced security measures have improved the safety of residents and farmers.
Oyebanji also highlighted the administration's focus on clearing farmland, providing seedlings and building agricultural roads to help farmers improve food production and reduce the price of agricultural products.
According to him, his desire to ensure food security and enhance economic development, the agricultural sector formed a larger part of the 2025 budget presented to the State Assembly.
He acknowledged the complexities of land acquisition for large-scale agribusiness, including resettlement issues and tensions between communities and private investors, adding that his administration has prioritized transparency, ensuring fair compensation and creating economic opportunities for affected communities. .
“We are committed to protecting the future of our children while maintaining economic value for landowners and building trust among all stakeholders,” Oyebanji said.
Agriculture and Food Security Commissioner Ebenezer Boluwade said the project was necessary to ensure that all stakeholders are involved in the agricultural value chain for optimal production.
He revealed that the administration has invested over N5 billion in the agricultural sector during the current year, assuring stakeholders that the government would sustain the investment in 2025 for the state to become the agricultural hub of the country.
In his remarks, the Special Adviser on eGIS and Surveying, Professor James Olalẹyẹ, commended Governor Oyebanji for signing the Executive Order for the establishment, adoption and implementation of FRILIA in Ekiti State.
He described FRILIA as a World Bank project implemented in the states of Nigeria and the Federal Capital Territory in collaboration with the NGF Secretariat, ostensibly to ensure land acquisition and resentment over large-scale agribusiness investments made in in accordance with established international standards.
Governor Oyebanji's Technical Advisor on e-GIS and Land Management, Olusanmi Akintobi, outlined the objectives of the seminar, which include establishing principles for large-scale agricultural investments based on international flight guidelines.
He commended the Ekiti government for establishing steering and technical committees to implement FRILIA, highlighting its comprehensive work plan 2024-2025 and the development of eight toolkits for the programme.
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