Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has refuted the alleged takeover of farmlands by a private agro-allied company in Oluwarotimi Forest Reserve (OA3A) in the Odigbo Local Government Area of the state. 

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, on Tuesday. 

Mr. Adeniyan stated that many of the aggrieved farmers currently occupy parts of the forest reserve, breached current agreements, while also exceeding designated land allocation parameters.

The CPS noted that some of the farmers encroached restricted forest zones without permission, while others disregarded land use terms, posing environmental and security hazards.

Mr. Adeniyan said, “Contrary to the claims of contempt for court injunctions, the Ondo State Government and all related agencies; public and private, have acted strictly within the framework of the law.”

“Where litigation is ongoing, every step taken has been guided by legal counsel, verified surveys, and documented notifications. No action has been taken arbitrarily,” he added.

Mr. Adeniyan also clarified that the senior special assistant to the governor on agribusiness, was not a land-grabber, noting what he termed ‘false and politically driven’ narratives. 

He stated that the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture, Ayo Sotoprin, was also not using the SAO Agro-Allied Services, operating under a public-private partnership, to seize farmlands. 

The governor noted that at no point, before or after election, he promised to support illegal occupants of government land and forest reserves.

“SAO Agro-Allied Services, on its part, has been operating under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement approved by the state since 2021. The firm’s acquisition and development of agro-industrial zones followed due process and are under full government oversight. None of its activities involves the unlawful takeover of legally secured farms,” Mr. Adeniyan said.

The state government urged the public to refrain from misleading narrative, while restating state-wide commitment to transparency, environmental sustainability and the growth of the agricultural sector.