Ogun State Government Wins Stakeholder Praise for Proposed Agricultural Land Management Agency Bill
The Ogun State Government has received commendations from key stakeholders for its proposed bill seeking the establishment of the State Agricultural Land Management Agency, with experts noting the legislation’s potential to deliver dual benefits to both the Government and the citizenry.
The public forum, organized by the Ogun State House of Assembly, brought together representatives from civil society organizations, Government Ministries, and Development Bodies.
Among those present were Comrade Yinka Folarin of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights, Barr. James Mafe from the State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Rotimi Niyi of the Justice Development and Peace Movement, and Mr. Okanlawon Fashola representing the Ministry of Agriculture.
The attendees highlighted the relevance of the bill in regulating Agricultural land allocation and preventing the conversion of farmlands into housing developments.
Officials from relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) were also in attendance, including Surveyor Oladele Ewulo, the State Surveyor-General, underscoring the Government’s commitment to a coordinated approach to land management.
Opening the forum, Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, described the bill as strategically vital for the State’s sustainable development Agenda. “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 said.
The Speaker explained that the objective of the bill is to ensure that land allocation for Agricultural investments is transparent, inclusive, sustainable, and beneficial to all stakeholders, particularly host communities, farmers, and investors.
He further noted that agriculture remains a critical pillar of the Ogun State economy, with vast potentials for job creation, food security, industrial growth, and wealth generation.
Hon. Waliu Owode, the sponsor of the bill, emphasized that the legislation is designed to promote transparency, inclusiveness, sustainability, and equity in Agricultural land Administration.
He added that it would also encourage responsible investments aimed at enhancing food security, generating employment, and stimulating economic growth.
Owode described the forum as a platform for stakeholders to contribute expert insights to strengthen the proposed legislation.
In his closing remarks, Hon. Lukman Adeleye assured stakeholders that all inputs submitted during the forum would be carefully reviewed and harmonized to produce a bill that reflects collective aspirations, safeguards host communities, builds investor confidence, and delivers a framework that all parties would be proud of.
The proposed bill is now poised to advance through the legislative process, marking a significant step toward structured agricultural land management in Ogun State and supporting the State’s broader economic and sustainable development objectives.
