Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
The Oyo State Government has moved to quell growing public anxiety over the future of the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement, clarifying that the proposed development of portions of the land is part of a long-term strategic plan to integrate agriculture, housing, and economic development, and not an attempt to sell the farm settlement.
Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Olasunkanmi Olaleye, made the disclosure while explaining the rationale behind a recent notice issued by the Ministry concerning portions of land within the settlement. He stressed that the development should be understood within the broader context of the state government's long-term development plan under Governor Seyi Makinde, which prioritises agricultural transformation, food security, employment generation, and sustainable economic development.
According to Olaleye, the proposed New Town is designed to complement agricultural productivity, with a major component being a land-intensive Farm Housing Scheme that will integrate modern agriculture, residential communities, and agro-allied industries within a properly planned environment. He explained that the initiative is expected to increase agricultural production, create employment opportunities, strengthen agricultural value chains, attract investment, and contribute to the state's food security objectives.
The commissioner noted that the development has become necessary given the changing realities of the farm settlement, which has, over the years, become surrounded by expanding residential developments within the Ogbomoso metropolis. He further explained that some existing occupants had remained on portions of the land for several years without the required payments or formal documentation, while some original allottees were deceased. According to him, the intervention therefore provides an opportunity for the government to properly reorganise, regulate, and optimise the use of the land in the public interest.
Olaleye stressed that the government's commitment to agriculture remained unwavering, noting that the administration had continued to implement various interventions aimed at strengthening the sector. These include subsidised tractorisation and agricultural mechanisation; provision of improved seedlings, fertilisers, and other agricultural inputs; training of farmers and extension officers in climate-smart agriculture; strengthening of agricultural extension services; promotion of agribusiness, processing, and agricultural value chains; improved rural access and agricultural infrastructure through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project; as well as support for farmers, agripreneurs, and private-sector investment.
The commissioner maintained that these interventions demonstrated that the present administration was not working against agriculture but was repositioning the sector as a major driver of food security, employment, and economic growth. He therefore urged the general public, stakeholders, and residents of Ogbomoso to disregard misinformation and political interpretations suggesting that the government intended to sell the farm settlement.
He emphasised that the objective was to ensure that the land was put to productive and sustainable use while keeping agriculture at the core of the development. “The proposed New Town represents an opportunity to integrate agriculture, housing, agro-allied industries, and economic opportunities within a properly planned environment that will benefit Ogbomoso and Oyo State at large,” he added. He appealed to all stakeholders to support development initiatives that would promote agricultural productivity, food security, employment, investment, and sustainable economic growth.
The clarification comes amid rising tension in Ogbomoso, where indigenes had earlier petitioned Governor Makinde over alleged plans to allocate portions of the farm settlement to private investors and developers. Some reports had also suggested that the Ministry of Agriculture had issued a notice directing farm settlers in Ogbomoso to vacate the land before December 30, 2026. The government's latest statement appears designed to address these concerns head-on, reassuring the public that the initiative is not an attempt to sell the farm settlement but a strategic intervention to reposition the land for sustainable and productive use.
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