The Ondo State Government has strongly denied allegations by protesting cocoa farmers in Odigbo Local Government Area, who claimed their farmlands in the Oluwa Forest Reserve were unlawfully taken and handed over to a private firm. The farmers, who staged a protest on Sunday, accused the state of collaborating with SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited to displace them and destroy their plantations.
In a swift response on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Mr. Ebenezer Adeniyan, debunked the claims, describing them as politically motivated and entirely baseless. He clarified that the firm in question, SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited, has been operating under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) approved by the state government since 2021.
Adeniyan stressed that all acquisitions made by the agro firm have followed due process and government oversight, noting that no legally secured farmland was unlawfully taken. “None of the activities of SAO Agro-Allied Services involves the illegal seizure of farmland. The project has gone through legal channels, with verified surveys and proper documentation,” he stated.
The allegations also involved Mr. Ayo Sotinrin, the current Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture and former CEO of the said firm. However, the state government firmly dismissed any connection between Sotinrin and the ongoing land developments in the Oluwa Forest Reserve, describing the claims as “malicious and an attempt at character assassination.”
Adeniyan further explained that many of the protesting farmers had encroached on restricted areas of the forest reserve, breaching the land-use agreements that were previously established. “Several of the farmers have expanded beyond their allocated plots, entered protected forest zones without authorization, and failed to comply with environmental safeguards,” he said.
Responding to accusations of contempt for a subsisting court injunction, the governor’s spokesman emphasized that the government and all related agencies have acted in strict accordance with the law. “Where court proceedings are ongoing, every move has been legally advised and guided,” he noted.
In addition, the government cleared the name of Rotimi Akinsola, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Agribusiness, whom the farmers also accused of land grabbing. According to the statement, Akinsola’s role is purely supervisory, aimed at coordinating investment and job creation through large-scale commercial agriculture.
“This initiative is projected to create thousands of jobs and enhance food security while boosting the state’s internally generated revenue. There is no room for arbitrary land seizures under this administration,” the statement added.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, through the statement, expressed his openness to dialogue with all stakeholders involved in the dispute. He reassured farmers that his administration remains committed to both economic growth and the protection of citizens’ livelihoods. “We are determined to advance agriculture responsibly—without violating legal or environmental standards,” the government declared.
This controversy highlights the delicate balance between development and rural livelihoods in Nigeria’s agricultural policy. While public-private partnerships are seen as key to reviving agriculture and attracting investment, they must be carefully managed to avoid displacement and social unrest.
The Ondo State Government has reiterated its commitment to sustainable development, transparency, and lawful governance. As investigations and dialogue continue, stakeholders are hopeful for a peaceful resolution that will protect farmers’ rights while promoting agricultural modernization in the state.