(DDM) – The Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has formally approved the establishment of a new agricultural city in Iju‑Agbonrin/Ori‑Ohin, located in the Ose Local Government Area of the state.
The project, valued at US$42 million, will be implemented by KONIG Agriculture Ltd. under the framework of the federal government’s land‑intensive agriculture initiative.
The approval follows the signing of a land‑lease agreement between community landowners and KONIG Agriculture Ltd., with the state ministry of Agriculture and Forestry acting as guarantor.
According to the state Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, the new agricultural city is expected to galvanize agricultural development in Ondo State. It aims to stimulate economic growth, boost food production, and dramatically reduce both unemployment and insecurity in the host communities.
Under the plan, over 60 percent of workforce positions will be filled by residents of the host communities. The project will also include corporate social responsibility (CSR) components such as provision of boreholes, solar power installation, and a health facility on the farm whose services will extend to the local public.
Officials said the agricultural city is part of a broader state strategy under the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land‑Intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA) to mobilize private‑sector investors into sustainable agriculture, secure land rights, and guarantee fair returns for host communities.
Governor Aiyedatiwa welcomed the investment, pledging that his administration would provide the necessary enabling environment and support to ensure that agriculture thrives in the state.
The governor and his team view the Ondo Agricultural City as a critical step toward transforming Ondo into a hub of modern agribusiness, enhancing food security, creating jobs, especially for youth and women, and sparking rural development through private‑public partnerships.