Ekiti Governor Distributes N146 Million As Compensation To 46 Landowners For Agriculture Project

Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji on Sunday distributed N146 million as compensation to 46 residents of Oke Ako Ekiti in Ikole Local Government Area, whose lands were taken for a commercial agriculture project.

The project covers 4,000 hectares of land and is part of the "Bring Back the Youth in Agriculture" program, a partnership between the state government and YSJ Farms Limited. It aims to involve young farmers, boost agribusiness and promote economic growth in the region, Premium Times reported.

During the event, Oyebanji expressed satisfaction with the project's progress, despite earlier delays caused by land acquisition issues. He said that the compensation was part of the government's commitment to ensuring landowners were paid for their land acquired for commercial agriculture.

He explained that the delay was due to the need to assess the economic trees affected by the land acquisition, and reassured landowners that a second round of assessments would begin soon, with further compensation payments planned.

The governor added that the compensation would cover the loss of economic trees and help landowners buy new land to continue farming, ensuring they could maintain their livelihood.

At the event, Oyebanji launched tractors and processing equipment for the young farmers and participated in the dry-season harvest by the program's participants.

He highlighted the project's potential to transform the area into a hub for tractor training, assembly, and repair, with experts available to train local youth, while highlighting that compensation would be paid to their owners before removing the remaining economic trees.

The governor said that large-scale commercial farming would lead to the development of factories, schools, hospitals and a tractor assembly and engineering hub.

Oyebanji also pointed out the scheme's wider benefits, including improved infrastructure, job creation, and better security. He compared the development process to the pain of childbirth, explaining that while growth brings challenges, the resulting benefits would bring great joy.

The governor praised the Oke Ako community, led by Regent Princess Tinuade Ogunbiyi, for their cooperation with his government. He reassured residents that the project would bring development, such as road repairs, healthcare facilities, and cottage industries.