Aiyedatiwa Approves $42m Agric City as Ondo Sets Path for Large-Scale Agricultural Transformation
Ondo State has taken a major step toward repositioning its agricultural economy as Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has approved the $42m Ondo Agric City project, a landmark investment designed to stimulate commercial farming, create massive employment opportunities, and unlock rural economic development across the state.
The project, to be executed by KONIG Agriculture Ltd., will be located in Iju-Agbonrin/Ori-Ohin in Ose Local Government Area.
The initiative, which falls under the Federal Government’s Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-intensive Agriculture (FRILIA), is expected to become a model for sustainable, investor-driven agricultural development in Nigeria.
The state government formally granted the approval following the signing of a land-lease guarantor agreement between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, community landowners, and KONIG Agriculture Ltd.
Announcing the development on Sunday, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Mr. Leye Akinola, said the government was committed to ensuring the successful takeoff of the agric city, describing the project as a milestone that aligns with the Aiyedatiwa administration’s drive to attract investment and expand food production capacity.
Aiyedatiwa Approves $42m Agric City to Strengthen Food Security and Attract Investors
According to Akinola, the approval of the agric city demonstrates the government’s strategic commitment to leveraging the state’s agricultural potential.
He noted that the Aiyedatiwa approves $42m agric city initiative would significantly boost agricultural productivity while reducing unemployment and insecurity across host communities.
He emphasised that the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry would serve as guarantor for the landowners, ensuring that community interests are protected and that the partnership is founded on trust and mutual benefit.
Akinola urged both domestic and foreign investors to take advantage of the favourable environment being created in Ondo State, especially in the agricultural sector.
He said the agric city would “dramatically reduce unemployment and insecurity” in the area, noting that residents of the host communities would be the primary beneficiaries of the project’s workforce opportunities.
The commissioner added that the government was determined to support investors so that “their funds are not wasted” and so that agriculture could thrive as a sustainable economic driver for the state.
Aiyedatiwa Approves $42m Agric City to Spark Northern District Agricultural Revolution
Akinola also highlighted that the agric city would catalyse a broader agricultural revolution across the Northern Senatorial District of Ondo State.
He revealed that the project aligns with the administration’s plan to revive the abandoned Akunnu cattle ranch, a facility originally built by the defunct Western Region government.
According to him, investors have already shown strong interest in resuscitating the vast ranch, which is expected to complement the agric city by supporting livestock production, dairy processing, pasture cultivation, and large-scale animal husbandry.
He said the administration was committed to transforming currently underutilised agricultural assets into productive hubs capable of generating revenue and jobs.
Permanent Secretary Calls on Youth and Women to Participate
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mrs. Foluke Tunde-Daramola, called on community leaders to mobilise youths and women to participate actively in the project.
She assured that the agric city would create hundreds of direct and indirect employment opportunities, helping to eliminate joblessness and empowering rural families.
Tunde-Daramola stated that the government had prioritised transparency and community engagement throughout the process to ensure that host communities would benefit socially and economically from the project.
KONIG Agriculture Commits to Job Creation and Social Impact
On his part, the project lead for KONIG Agriculture Ltd., Mr. Oluwasegun Saliu, commended the Ondo State Government for its openness and dedication to agricultural development.
He affirmed that over 60 per cent of the agric city’s workforce would come from the host communities, reflecting the company’s commitment to local empowerment.
Saliu also announced that KONIG Agriculture would execute a series of community-focused corporate social responsibility (CSR) projects, including:
Installation of boreholes for potable water
Deployment of solar power systems
Establishment of a farm-based health facility accessible to residents
According to him, these CSR interventions will ensure that the benefits of the agric city extend beyond commercial farming activities to improve the overall quality of life in the surrounding communities.
FRILIA Framework Ensures Fairness, Inclusiveness, and Sustainability
Representing the FRILIA initiative, Mrs. Justina Arogundade explained that the agric city aligns strictly with the federal government’s guidelines for responsible, large-scale agricultural investments.
She said FRILIA focuses on transparency, environmental stewardship, fair compensation, and meaningful community participation.
Arogundade added that the framework was designed to ensure that investments deliver “win-win outcomes”—one that supports investors while safeguarding the economic, social, and cultural interests of host communities.
She reiterated that the Ondo agric city met all compliance requirements and was structured to ensure long-term sustainability.
A Mega Project Set to Transform Ondo’s Agricultural Landscape
Stakeholders describe the agric city as the largest agricultural investment approved in the state in recent years.
Beyond food production, the project is expected to stimulate value chain activities such as processing, packaging, distribution, storage, and export.
Policymakers believe that the agric city will support the state’s broader agenda to become a leading agricultural hub in Southwest Nigeria.
Analysts say the timing of the approval is strategic, especially as states across the federation push to expand agricultural output to counter food inflation and strengthen local economies.
With rising investor confidence, expanding rural infrastructure, and a renewed government push, Ondo’s agric city is positioned to become a flagship project with ripple effects across the state.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s approval of the $42m agric city is widely regarded as a bold move that aligns with Nigeria’s broader agricultural transformation roadmap.
If successfully executed, the project could serve as a national model for inclusive, investment-led agricultural expansion.
