Written by Lawal Jamiu A.

Stakeholders at the public forum organised by the Ogun State House of Assembly on the proposed bill seeking the establishment of the ‘State Agricultural Land Management Agency’ have commended the State government and the State lawmakers, saying that the legislation will ensure dual benefits to the government and citizenry.

The stakeholders including the representatives of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Comrade Yinka Folarin, that of the State Ministry of Justice, Barr. James Mafe, Justice Development and Peace Movement represented by Mr. Rotimi Niyi and the Ministry of Agriculture represented by Mr. Okanlawon Fashola, highlighted the relevance of the bill in regulating agricultural land allocation and curbing the conversion of designated farmlands to housing developments.

Also present at the public hearing were the representatives of the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government including the State Surveyor-General, Surveyor Oladele Ewulo.

Declaring the forum open, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, described the bill as strategically important to the State’s sustainable development agenda.

According to the Speaker, “this proposed legislation is of strategic importance to the sustainable development agenda of Ogun State. It is designed to provide a robust institutional framework for the acquisition, allocation and management of agricultural land, while also deploying a comprehensive Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investments (FRILIA)”.

He explained that the objective of the bill was to ensure that land allocation for agricultural investments in the State become transparent, inclusive, sustainable, and beneficial to all stakeholders, particularly the host communities, farmers and investors; noting that agriculture remained a critical pillar of the economy with vast potentials for job creation, food security, industrial growth and wealth generation.

Also speaking, the sponsor of the bill, Hon. Waliu Owode, said the Bill was designed to promote transparency, inclusiveness, sustainability and equity in agricultural land administration, as well as encourage responsible investments that would enhance food security, create employment and stimulate economic growth; adding that the forum was meant to provide a platform for stakeholders to contribute expert insights towards strengthening the legislation.

In his closing remarks, Hon. Lukman Adeleye assured the stakeholders that all inputs submitted at the forum would be carefully reviewed and harmonised to produce a bill that would reflect collective aspirations, promote investors’ confidence, protect host communities and deliver a framework all stakeholders would be proud of.