Oyo clarifies Ogbomoso farm settlement plan, says land not for sale

Oyo State says its plan for parts of the Ogbomoso Farm Settlement is not a land sale, but a long-term project combining farming, housing and economic development.

Information Commissioner Dotun Oyelade said Agriculture and Rural Development Commissioner Olasunkanmi Olaleye had clarified the purpose of a recent notice concerning land within the settlement. Olaleye said the proposed New Town would support agricultural production rather than replace it.

A central part of the plan is a land-intensive Farm Housing Scheme linking modern agriculture, residential communities and agro-allied industries in a planned environment. The government says the project should increase production, create jobs, strengthen agricultural value chains, attract investment and support food security.

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The development should be understood within the broader context of the state government’s long-term development plan under the leadership of His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, which prioritises agricultural transformation, food security, employment generation and sustainable economic development.

Olaleye said the settlement had become surrounded by expanding residential development in Ogbomoso. He also said some occupants had used parts of the land for years without required payments or formal documentation, while some original allottees had died. The government therefore sees the intervention as a way to reorganize and regulate use of the land in the public interest.

Officials said the state’s agricultural commitments include subsidized tractorization and mechanization, improved seedlings and fertilizers, farmer training in climate-smart agriculture, stronger extension services, agribusiness promotion and improved rural and agricultural infrastructure.

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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.