…Approves establishment of nine agro-logistics centres across the state

By Adedotun Ajayi

The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has reiterated the importance of agriculture as the backbone of the state’s economy, highlighting its vital role in sustaining citizens’ livelihoods and driving economic growth.

He made this assertion during the groundbreaking ceremony of the 3.5km Ebute Ipare-Oke Ipare rural road project in Ilaje LGA, Ondo’s Southern Senatorial District, on Monday.

Speaking at the event, Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasised his administration’s deliberate focus on transforming rural areas across Ondo State through infrastructure projects, particularly road construction and reconstruction.

The governor said: “Our administration has been making deliberate efforts to implement several life-changing programmes and projects geared towards improving the livelihoods and living standards of rural dwellers and the teeming farming population in our dear state through the construction and reconstruction of several bad roads. These we are doing for the rural communities, especially since agriculture remains the backbone of the economy of Ondo State.”

Aiyedatiwa also noted the importance of the rural road project in ensuring the steady supply of food from farms to urban areas, while also raising the socioeconomic status of rural residents. He described the road as a critical infrastructure project that will address the longstanding challenges faced by rural farmers, particularly in transporting perishable goods.

Governor Aiyedatiwa further shared that the groundbreaking of rural road projects has also taken place in Oda and Idanre towns within the Central Senatorial District, as well as in Molege, Owo, in the Northern Senatorial District. He attributed the success of these projects to the state’s timely payment of counterpart funds for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), a collaboration with the World Bank and the French Development Agency.

The governor revealed that Ondo State joined other states in 2017 to implement the RAAMP project, with a focus on rural and agricultural development. He assured the residents of Ilaje that the new road would help address the economic gap between rural and urban areas by facilitating smoother transportation and creating opportunities for local farmers.

In addition, Governor Aiyedatiwa announced the establishment of nine Agro-Logistics Centres across the three senatorial districts of the state, with Ebute Ipare to Oke-Ipare selected as one of the beneficiaries.

“We are equally in the process of establishing nine Agro-Logistics Centres across the three Senatorial Districts of the state. I therefore wish to congratulate the good people of Ebute Ipare to Oke-Ipare for being fortunate to be one of the beneficiaries of the nine approved Agro-Logistics Centres in the state. The Agro-Logistics Centres, when completed, will increase the income of farmers living in these communities and those along the road corridor. Also, post-harvest losses associated with farm produce due to a lack of good roads and marketing centres will completely become a thing of the past,” he added.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to grassroots development and urged local stakeholders to take ownership of the road projects. “Contractors must be closely monitored to ensure compliance with specifications, so that the expected standard of the roads is not compromised,” he cautioned.

Moreover, the Administrative Secretary of the Directorate of Rural & Community Development and Chairman of the State Project Monitoring Committee of RAAMP, Mr Wole Akinkuotu, reiterated the administration’s proactive stance in participating in RAAMP.

He cited Governor Aiyedatiwa’s commitment and desire to reshape perceptions surrounding rural accessibility as driving factors behind the state’s involvement.

He stated that the project aligns with the governor’s promise to the people of Ondo State to ease the hardships faced by rural communities.

He further noted that once completed, the road will link the people of Ilaje to urban centres, enabling farmers to transport their produce to the cities.

Also, in his keynote address, the Director-General of Ondo RAAMP, Adeniyi Adelabu, thanked the Governor for honouring his promise. He recounted several occasions where the Governor expressed his commitment to establishing road links between rural areas and urban centres.

Adelabu commended the Governor for treating the project with urgency and reaffirmed the Governor’s commitment to rural development and the well-being of farmers across the state.

He noted that the primary challenge in rural areas is poor road infrastructure, which leads to farm produce being left on the farms. Since these are perishable goods, they often spoil. He emphasised that the Governor is committed to addressing this issue and finding a lasting solution.

In attendance were Member representing Ilaje Constituency 2, Hon Wunmi Obayelu Fayemi, Commissioner for Health, Dr Banji Awolowo Ajaka, Chairman of Ilaje Local Government, Mrs Toyin Ogungbure Agbeni, The Amapetu of Mahin Land, Oba Olusegun Williams Akinyomi, among other traditional rulers.