Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Wednesday, said that Ogun State would soon become the largest producer of rice in the country, as the Government is set to acquire 20,000 hectares of land in Yewa North and Imeko Afon Local Government Areas for investors in rice production.
He disclosed this while commissioning the first phase of the Imasayi-Iboro-Ayetoro road in Yewa North Local Government Area of the State, which signifies the flag-off of the second phase leading to Ayetoro, as it would ease transportation of farm produce from one place to another.
However, Abiodun solicited the support of traditional rulers in the region to provide the hectares of land in two weeks, “I had spoken with the Head of Service. I have also spoken with Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, to challenge all the traditional rulers in Yewaland that we are looking for 20,000 hectares of land”
He also noted that his administration had already brought in investors to cultivate and develop the land for the mass production of rice in Nigeria. “We want to turn this part of Yewaland into a rice capital of Nigeria. We already have investors that love the responses to turn this place into the rice development and rice processing centre in Nigeria and I am deeply committed to that as such will be one of the legacies of my administration.”
The Governor stressed that his administration intended to turn Yewaland into the rice capital of Nigeria through the help of foreign investors without the State spending a dime but to provide an enabling environment for them. He said “Therefore, I am throwing it back to you Kabiyesi, go and help us look for land between now and the next two weeks.
“Government is not putting a dime into it but will just be providing the needed enabling environment for the investors to turn this place into a rice capital of Nigeria.
“This is in line with our Public Private Partnership (PPP) agenda. We will lift the economic prosperity of this place. It will trickle down to individual prosperity and the lives of our people will never be the same again.”
He emphasized that Yewaland is known for its agricultural potential in food production, noting that his government would not hesitate to leave the legacies in the council areas as the food baskets of not just this State but the entire nation. “Yewa North and Imeko/Afon Local Government Areas are known for their agricultural potential and one of my legacies will be to leave these Council Areas and have them defined truly as the food baskets of not just this state but for the entire country”
The Governor, while speaking on the new road, said: “We do not think that there is an excuse for us not to begin the construction of this road because we cannot afford the entire budgetary provision at once at the time we were awarded it.
“But to demonstrate our commitment and sincerity of purpose, we chose to divide it into two phases to enable us to complete the first phase, knowing that such will convince every doubting mind that we are indeed sincere and committed to ensuring that we provided the needed infrastructure across this corridor.
“So, today, we are here to commission the first phase, which is a 7-kilometre beginning from Imasayi-Iboro to Igan Okoto and by the same token, flag-off the construction of the second phase leading to Ayetoro. This will put-paid to all the rumours from mischief makers. Of course, what benefit will it be if we commence the road and stop it halfway? So, let the mischief makers go and look for another job.” Abiodun concluded