Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to advancing agriculture by partnering with the Benin-Owena River Basin Development Authority (BORBDA). This collaboration will focus on expanding agricultural output, enhancing water resource management, and empowering youth through agribusiness initiatives.
The governor gave this assurance while hosting the BORBDA management team, led by its Managing Director, Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi, during a courtesy visit to his office in Akure.
Aiyedatiwa expressed confidence in the agency’s new leadership, acknowledging the ongoing relevance of River Basin Authorities in driving rural development and ensuring food security, despite past challenges. He commended the team for its realistic assessment and commitment to change.
While highlighting the state’s efforts to support smallholder farmers, the governor mentioned plans to ease access to farm inputs, improve irrigation systems, and enhance infrastructure. He also addressed the impact of insecurity on farming communities, particularly where farmers have been displaced by violent herders, noting that the government is actively working to ensure safety and restore access to farmlands.
Furthermore, Aiyedatiwa emphasized the high cost of land clearing and disclosed that his administration is exploring partnerships to ease this financial burden on farmers.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa revealed that the state is implementing a World Bank-assisted water project aimed at delivering clean and safe drinking water to Akure and its neighboring communities. This initiative will leverage the already completed Owena Dam, which he praised BORBDA for successfully constructing. He also stressed the need for improved coordination between the agency’s state office and the government, while pledging to establish agribusiness initiatives across all local government areas.
In his earlier remarks, BORBDA’s Managing Director, Dr. Olufemi Adekanmbi, described the visit as a return to familiar ground and extended his congratulations to the Governor on his electoral success. He affirmed the Authority’s dedication to aligning its operations with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in response to the national food security crisis.
Adekanmbi also highlighted BORBDA’s contributions to Ondo State, including the construction of major dams, erosion control works, and concrete water channelization projects in Akure.
