By Adeyinka Adeniran
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state on Thursday approved the release of N2billion to the contractor working on a segment of the Iddo-Eruwa road, promising to ultimately approve the complete reconstruction of the 48 kilometer stretch soon.
He said the project will be completed in a year.
Makinde spoke in a remark at at the turning of the sod of the Eruwa AgriBusiness Industrial Hub, located at the Old Eruwa Farm Settlement, Ibarapa East Local Government Area, Eruwa.
The settlement is a 3,250hectare AgriBusiness hub is designed to have facilities including production hub, resort, agro forest, factories, warehouses, power plant, trailer park, container yards, commercial area, fire station, arcade, stores and workshops, shops, residential, among others.
Speaking, Governor Makinde who noted that he has learnt a lot of lessons from the Fashola farm experience said the Eruwa hub is three times the size of Fashola farms assuring that his administration have the capacity to take the project and see it to completion.
While explaining that the Fashola farms which remains a legacy that is been understudy by visitors from both within and outside the country, the governor said the Eruwa AgriBusiness Industrial Hub will take Ibarapa zone to international agriculture map.
He assured that his administration will ensure the project is completed before the termination of the tenure, expressing appreciation to development partners and the private sector who have committed to partnering with the government to fund the project.
He urged the people of Ibarapa land to cooperate with the investors by welcoming them as they create jobs and improve the economy of the area by ensuring that the project covers every aspect of the agricultural value chain.
The governor also assured that the project will be delivered in phases which will be driven through the Oyo State Agribusinesses Development Agency (OYSADA).
Makinde said “Fashola farm is bigger than Victoria Island, Lagos. Eruwa Agribusinesses Industrial Hub is three times bigger than Fashola Agribusiness hub.
“And for emphasis, that is, you have all been to Victoria Island, right? This is four times Victoria Island that we are putting here in Eruwa. Because Fashola farm has taught us a very big lesson. We know that we have the capacity to take on this project and to see it to completion.
“As Debo mentioned, it is not only states in Nigeria that have visited Fashola farms, we have had visitors from Ogun State, Ekiti State, Cross Rivers, Borno, Plateau, Delta, and Gombe. They’ve all been visiting Fashola farm estates. We’ve also had visitors from outside of Nigeria, Ghana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique, and Kenya.
“So people of Ibarapa, be ready, because Ibarapa land is now on the international agriculture map. So we’re quite happy, and for me, personally, I feel fulfilled that this journey to develop this farm estate, finally, we are getting it done. So I’m happy to be joined on this journey by development partners and the private sector.
“Some of the people you saw seated here, they have committed to bring their money into this environment. So my people of Ibarapa, what you can do for me is to make the investors feel welcome. Support them, and they will create jobs for our youth.
“As you have already heard from DG OYSADA, the agency is the special purpose vehicle that we are using to drive agribusiness in Oyo State. So the Eruwa agribusiness industry will be divided into segments. You can see what will happen.
“So we’re ensuring that this project covers every aspect of the agricultural value chain. So as I go out there to symbolically cut the tape. Iseyin, all the way to Fashola, is also being linked.
“When I was coming earlier, I passed through the road from iddo to Eruwa, I’ve actually approved now that N2 billion Naira should be released to the contractor. So that all of those who are coming for the festivities will not have issues plying the road and I will ultimately approve the complete reconstruction of the 48 kilometer stretch. In less than a year from today, it will be so.
“We look forward to returning here. I that started this project will complete it. We will not leave it for another administration. So this will be done, dusted, and commissioned before I leave office.”
Earlier in his remarks, the Director-General of OYSADA, Dr Debo Akande, said the Eruwa Agribusiness Hub is expected to be a 40-million-dollar public-private development investment that will change the agricultural landscape of Eruwa, Ibarapa, and Oyo State.
He said the facility will include a crop and livestock production centre, 15-20 processing centres, a state-of-the-art agribusiness training centre, a mechanisation and equipment leasing centre, an early-generation seed production centre, with an eco-resort centre, that will put Eruwa on the world map.
He thanked Governor Makinde for his visionary leadership, the citizens of the state, the people of Ibarapa, and particularly Eruwa, the private investors, and AfDB for believing in the project.
Explaining how Fasola Hub has become a success story, Akande maintained that the Hub has seen an influx of 12 medium to large national and international private companies occupying the 1,150 hectares of land for crop production, livestock rearing, and processing for domestic consumption and export.
He added that these companies have been contributing to supporting smallholder farmers in the state through training, taking their crops for processing and development of early generation seeds that will help yields across the state.
Delivering a remark, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, equally lauded Governor Makinde for his visionary leadership, saying his commitment to transforming the state’s economy through agribusiness is truly commendable.
While noting that the Eruwa Agribusiness Industrial Hub would be a legacy project for him after his tenure, he charged residents of the area to cooperate with the contractors for the success of the project, stressing the the project is a testament to Makinde’s dedication to harnessing the state’s comparative advantage in agriculture.
Also speaking, the Director-General, Nigeria, African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Abdul Kamara, lauded Governor Makinde for resuscitating moribund farm settlements and putting the state on the path of agribusiness.
He said the move is consistent with AfDB’s approach to rural and economic transformation and aligns with its focus to feed Africa, guarantee food security, nutrition, agro-processing, agricultural transformations, industrialization and improving the quality of lives for Africans, assuring that the AfDB would give its maximum support to the speedy execution of the project.
In their separate goodwill messages, the Senior Special Adviser on Industrialization to the President of AfDB, Prof. Banji Oyeleran-Oyeyinka; the Olu of Igbooro, Oba Olajide Titiloye; and the chairman, Eruwa Council of Elders, Chief Joseph Peluola, severally appreciated Governor Makinde for seeing the future of agriculture sector and making the project a reality.
They urged the governor to ensure the speedy completion of the Ido-Eruwa road and equally enhance microfinance banks to give financial support to more farmers.
The event had in attendance top government functionaries, traditional rulers, residents, development partners, private sectors among others.
