Oyebanji's Achievements in Agriculture and Rural Development: A Path to Food Security and Prosperity.

Oyebanji's Achievements in Agriculture and Rural Development: A Path to Food Security and Prosperity.

By Olamide Akinwumi. 

Governor Biodun Abayomi Oyebanji’s administration has made agriculture and rural development a cornerstone of its governance strategy, recognizing the sector’s critical role in ensuring food security and driving economic growth. Food security has remained a key priority of this government. "We believe strategic investments in our agricultural resources, accompanying investments in our rural areas, will position our state for sustained growth and prosperity," says Governor Oyebanji.

To this end, the administration has embarked on the following interventions:

Agricultural Development Initiatives:

● Signing of MOU with Cavista Holding to boost cassava farming and develop offtake markets for farmers in Ekiti State

● Allocation of 1,535 hectares of arable land to 66 farmers and investors across the two farm settlements and fivefarm centres

● Payment of N60M as counterpart funding for the World Bank-financed L-PRES counterpart contribution to develop the livestock sector, and the activation of $800,000 support from the World Bank

● Collaboration with FG to commence registration of farmers for the FG National AGRO pocket scheme (NAGS-AP) and distribution of inputs

● Mapping and profiling of livestock farmers. (11,000 farmers has been profiled)

● Set up of Grievance Redress Platforms in each of the Local Government to the State level to address the friction between herders and farmers 

● Subsidized mechanization services at 50% rate to more than one thousand beneficiaries

● More than 15,000 kg of improved maize seeds; 3,000kg of faro 44 and 59 rice seeds; 20,000 seedlings of oil palm; 20,000 cocoa seedlings; and 10,000 cashew seedlings were distributed to farmers

● Agro chemicals worth N80m and 18,000 bags of assorted fertilizer to all farmers within the state at no cost to the farmers.

 

*Fadama Ekiti CARES Interventions:*

● Procurement of Agricultural production asset/ small-scale processing Equipment to 469 farmers

● Distribution of 38,507-day-old chicks to farmers

● Distribution of 3,618 bags of poultry feeds to farmers

● Distribution of 10,000 bags of maize to livestock farmers

● Distribution of 42,150 fish seeds to farmers

● Distribution of 1,017 goats to farmers

● Distribution of 580 pigs to farmers

● Rehabilitation of 62 km of farm roads across the State

● Upgrade of 7 wet markets across the State.

 

*Youth in Agriculture:*

● Engagement of 120 participants in the Ekiti Broilers Production Scheme (EBOPS) for cohorts 1 and 2. The first cohort (20 youths) raised and produced 40,000 table sized chicken and made profit of more than N20m which has served as the seed capital to set them as poultry owners

● Engagement of 125 participants in horticultural production

● Donation of farmers hub and greenhouse by Syngenta Foundation

● Desiltation of dams and laying of pipes from the dam to the farm plots in Erifun to ensure all the year vegetable production

● Renovation of Agricultural building and furnishing of befitting accommodation for youths at Erifun

● Engagement of 913 youths in the Bring-Back-the-Youth into Agric Programme in Partnership with YSJ Limited, cultivating various crops in land clusters across the State.

*Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP):*

After the paymnent of our counterpart contribution of almost N1 billion, the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), has commenced and is now delivering on the following road construction/rehabilitation projects:

● Construction of 8.4 Enu Odi-Itaeku-Igirigiri road

● Construction of 5.70km Omisanjana-Ben Folarin-Oke Aso road

● Construction of 7.21km Ikogosi-Aba Osun-Aba Oriokuta-Ikogosi road

● Construction of 8.77km Oye-Are road

● Construction of 1.93km Afolu-Odofin road

● Construction of 6.68km Erinmope-Irare-Ikosun road

● Construction of 3.10km Ilupeju-Igbo Egan- Ayede road

● Construction of 4.60km Igbole-Egan-Iropara road

● Construction of 5.31km Ise Road-Imola

● Construction of 2.85km Owode-Anaye road

● Construction of 3.40km FMS-Oke Ako road

● Construction of 2.05km Ara-Ekameta School road

● Construction of 5.10km Iye-Isapa-Olopomeji-Ikun road, and

 Additionally 32 Farm clusters have been created for communities and cooperatives within the state. The state government borne the cost of land clearing and provide other support to activate the clusters. The clusters and beneficiaries are listed below: 

 

*INFRASTRUCTURE AND INDUSTRIALIZATION:*

To continue to maintain our upward trajectory in the ease of doing business, expand access to opportunities for our people, attract investments, and ease the life of our people, infrastructure development is crucial. To this end, we continue to invest massively in infrastructure development, targeting industrialization as a key focus area. This has remained a major focus of this administration since its inception. Our aggressive drive to massively improve infrastructure and industrialize the state has impacted multiple vital sectors of the economy including power, transportation, housing, environment, water and sanitation. 

 

*Power Infrastructure:*

Given how pivotal power supply is to economic and industrial development, we are making very determined efforts to ensure that Ekiti is set on a sustainable path of improved power. To achieve this, we have embarked on the following power infrastructure projects: 

● Establishment and transfer of regulatory control of the electricity market to Ekiti State Electricity Regulatory Bureau

● Identification of 4 Meter Assess Providers (MAP) and collaboration the MAPs BEDC and Ekiti State to provide prepaid meters for households at affordable cost, starting with 5 pilot communities, Erinmope, Ode, Aisegba, Imesi, Ipole-Iloro.

● Issuance of an Order on tariff setting for Ekiti State customers under BEDC/IBEDC services Areas in Ekiti State.

● Issuance of an Order on mandatory metering of electricity customers by the Discos

● Issuance of an Order on Standardization of Electricity matters of testing and certification of electricity projects for connection to all grids for all electricity distribution company operating in Ekiti State.

● With a view of increasing the commercial hours andsecurity across the state, several solar streetlight projects were executed to enhance security and increase the business hours for State’s economy

● Extension of 33KV network from 132KV Omisanjana Transmission substation to Baptist High School and Connection of Ilawe 33KV line to Erijiyan and Ikogosi to boost industrialisation and tourism in Ekiti State

● Extension of electricity and installation of transformer at Aba Iya Medi and adjoining communities, Ado Ekiti

● Replacement and installation of transformers in various communities

● Rehabilitation of 33KVA network from Ilumoba to Ikole Ekiti

● Extension of 33KVA electricity network from Ilawe to Igbara Odo Ekiti

● Extension of electricity to Abegunde Avenue and Akeju Lane in Emure 

● Extension of 33 low tension concrete poles (8.33m) 0.415kv 3 phase of neutral line at Olorunsogo street, Ise/Orun Local Government, Ise-Ekiti

● Rehabilitation and connection of Erijiyan, Ikogosi back to the National Grid

● Rehabilitation and connection of Ipole Iloro back to the National Grid 

● Rehabilitation and connection of Ijan, Ilumoba, Aisegba, Agbado, Imesi, Ode, Isinbode, Egbe, Iro Ayeteju and Omuo in Aiyekire back to the National Grid

● Extension of electricity from Omuo Ekiti to Eda Ile, Ikun Oba, Araromi and Ilasa Ekiti  

● Extension of 33KV line from Eruku Kwara State to Agricultural Zone in Iyemero/Installation of transformer

● Extension of IPP to Textile Industry, Basiri, Ado Ekiti,Elders Person’s Resort, Broadcasting Service of Ekiti State and other strategic locations

● Extension of Electricity and installation of Transformer at Efon Alaye Water Treatment Plant (WTP) of Ekiti State Water Corporation to enhance water supply (on-going).

● Purchase of 16Nos. 500KVA transformers for distribution.

 

*Transportation Infrastructure:*

To improve our transportation infrastructure, we have embarked on several critical transportation projects.  These projects are vital for the development of our state, and betterment of the lives of our people. Some of the projects include: 

● Reconstruction of Ikere-Igbara Odo Road

● Construction of Ekiti Ring Road Phase 1

● Construction of flyover bridge from Ajilosun (Union Bank) to Okeyinmi (First Bank), Ado-Ekiti

● Construction of Obisesan – Oke Ala – Basiri Road, Ado Ekiti

● Rehabilitation of Ikere-Ise-Emure Ekiti Road

● Rehabilitation of Ilawe-Erijiyan Road

● Construction of dual carriageway on GRA III Extension — State Pavilion Road

● Rehabilitation of Ado — Iworoko— Ifaki Road

● Rehabilitation of Igbara-Odo-Ikogosi Road

● Re-construction of Ilawe-Ikere Road

● Re-construction of Itapa-Omu-Ijelu Road

● Re-construction of Ilukuo-Ijurin-Ipoti Road

● Re-construction of Ikole-Ara-Isinbode Road

● Rehabilitation of Igede-Ilawe Roao

● Repair of several roads within Ado Ekiti

● Completion of all necessary civil works and installation of relevant navigational equipment at the Ado Ekiti Airport

● Agric Olope, De-Head/Faglo and GRA Extension Phase Iroads will be commissioned in the course of our second year anniversary. All the roads are complemented with solar street lights for illumination.

These achievements highlight Governor Oyebanji's commitment to driving food security, fostering prosperity, and ensuring a thriving, sustainable future for Ekiti State.