ABEOKUTA – The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has expressed government’s readiness to bring a lasting solution to the farmers/ herdsmen conflict in the state.
Abiodun disclosed this to farmers in the state recently at a workshop in Abeokuta, adding that the resolution would bring about improvement for both, and increase income generation for the state.
The Governor who was represented by his Special Adviser on Agriculture, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina commended the leadership representing farmers and herders in the State for the level of peace achieved so far, saying that no nation can thrive where there is rancour and resentment.
“As leaders, we need to be ready for challenges and be ready to confront and solve it. The government will support all committees, dialogue sessions, initiatives and logistics that will make this intervention work because, if we are not at peace, there would be no progress.’’
The also speaking, the Chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Ogun State Chapter, Prince Segun Dasaolu stressed that the workshop became imperative for purpose of peaceful co-existed between herdsmen and farmers to checkmate incessant killing of people and properties destruction.
In his response according to the statement, the Chairman of Miyetti Allah in the South West, Mallam Mohammed Kabir revealed that the farmers and herders have been involved in a series of meetings before now to finding a lasting solution to the crisis thereby commending the Ogun State government for her determination to resolve the challenges hoping that the same would be replicated in all the other states in the region.
Meanwhile, Ogun State Government said it has the ability to synergise effort with International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) to enhance farmers and processors empowerment through additional financing scheduled to close by 2020.
The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on Agriculture, Dr. Samson Adeola Odedina noted that, the state can coordinate activities such as land clearing, access roads and bridges to farmers in communities benefitting from IFAD.
He said Obafemi/Owode, Ijebu East, Ijebu North East and Ifo local governments have benefitted in the IFAD scheme, while Odeda, Odogbolu and Yewa South were recently included.
According to him, the IFAD programme will in no small measures create avalanche of opportunities for the rural dwellers and open up vistas of unparalleled development in these areas as they would soon become points of interest for industries and companies that rely solely on agricultural products for their production.
He explained that, government is committed to industrialising the agricultural sector which would ensure food security, increase food production of rural farmers, provide raw materials for agro-allied industries, as well as create employment opportunities for the youths, adding that the CBN and other intervention agencies had shown interest to make Ogun State the reference point in major crops that have comparative advantages.
