The Ondo State Government has rejected allegations from cocoa farmers in Odigbo Local Government Area, who claim their farmlands in the Oluwa Forest Reserve were sold to a private company, SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited, displacing them. The farmers protested, accusing the company and the state government of destroying their crops to take over the land.
In response, Governor Aiyedatiwa’s spokesperson, Ebenezer Adeniyan, clarified that Ayo Sotinrin, the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, was not involved in the land acquisition. He emphasized that SAO Agro-Allied Services operates under a Public-Private Partnership approved by the state since 2021, following all legal procedures. The government also stated that some farmers had violated land agreements and encroached on restricted areas of the forest.
Additionally, the government defended Rotimi Akinsola, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, against claims of land grabbing, asserting that his role is focused on promoting large-scale agriculture to boost the state’s economy.
The government reaffirmed its commitment to transparency, the rule of law, and dialogue with all stakeholders.
Credit: PUNCH
