…Backs Mixed Land-Use Model to Balance Agriculture and Investment
By Duchess Ifeoluwa
Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has ordered a comprehensive boundary audit of a disputed forest reserve concession linked to Rex Forestry Limited in Ondo West Local Government Area, as part of efforts to resolve lingering land ownership disputes and promote sustainable agricultural development.
The governor gave the directive on Monday during a stakeholders’ meeting with farmers from 27 affected communities at the Cocoa Conference Hall in Akure.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said the state government would adopt a structured land-use framework that accommodates both local farmers and investors within clearly defined boundaries, stressing that decisions would be based on verified facts rather than speculation.
The dispute centres on the actual size of the forest concession granted to Rex Forestry Limited.
While official records indicate that the concession covers about 37,000 hectares, other claims suggest it may extend to 50,000 hectares.
Community leaders, however, maintain that approximately 10,000 hectares of the land are currently occupied and cultivated by farmers.
To address the controversy, the governor directed the Office of the Surveyor-General to immediately undertake a detailed verification, mapping and demarcation exercise to establish the precise boundaries of the concession.
“We will not rely on assumptions. We need accurate data to determine the exact size of the concession and the extent of existing farming activities,” the governor stated.
In a move aimed at easing tensions among affected communities, Governor Aiyedatiwa assured farmers that no cocoa plantations or existing farmlands would be destroyed during the verification process.
“They are not touching your cocoa trees until we finish verification,” he assured.
The governor explained that where future adjustments become necessary, the government would adopt a phased transition approach rather than forceful displacement of farmers.
According to him, affected farmers would be provided with alternative farmlands, improved seedlings and other support measures to ensure continuity in agricultural production.
He also disclosed plans by the state government to establish new farm settlements as part of a broader agricultural restructuring programme designed to guarantee long-term food production and rural economic development.
Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized the importance of balancing community interests with private sector investments, noting that large-scale agricultural and forestry investors remain critical to job creation, industrial expansion and infrastructure development.
He maintained that concessions lawfully granted by previous administrations remain valid and must be respected in line with principles of policy continuity and investor confidence.
The governor further highlighted the benefits of private-sector participation in rural development, revealing that one of the investors operating in the area is currently constructing a 27-kilometre access road valued at approximately N1 billion.
According to him, the road project is expected to improve transportation, facilitate market access for farmers and stimulate economic activities in surrounding communities.
Governor Aiyedatiwa urged residents to avoid confrontation with investors and instead channel grievances through established government institutions and conflict-resolution mechanisms.
He advocated a mixed land-use model that allows both smallholder farmers and large-scale agribusinesses to coexist and contribute to the state’s agricultural growth.
“Agricultural development is not an either-or situation. We need both our local farmers and large-scale investors to achieve sustainable growth and economic prosperity,” he said.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Mr. Emmanuel Omomowo, explained that government intervention became necessary following disputes arising from investor concessions within forest reserves.
Omomowo stated that while Rex Forestry Limited officially holds a 37,000-hectare concession, unresolved boundary issues and competing claims from host communities had necessitated direct involvement by the state government.
He expressed confidence that the governor’s intervention would produce a fair and lasting resolution that protects community interests while preserving investor confidence.
Speaking on behalf of the affected farmers, the General Chairman of the Ondo Ilulade Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Society, Chief Philip Akinbanjo, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for assuring farmers that their cocoa plantations would not be destroyed.
He called on community members to cooperate with the verification process and support government efforts aimed at resolving the dispute peacefully.
Also speaking, the Special Stakeholders Adviser to Rex Forestry Limited, Dr. Olu Agunloye, disclosed that the company had previously reached an understanding with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to allow farmers continue cultivating areas not yet cleared for forestry operations.
Agunloye said the company accepts the governor’s directives and remains committed to operating within the framework that would emerge from the ongoing verification exercise.
The meeting was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola; lawmakers, traditional rulers, senior government officials and representatives of the affected communities.
