The governments of the six states in the southwest region have mapped out a security strategy that includes massive land clearing to boost food production. They have also agreed to strengthen farm security by creating specialized units within the Western Security Network code-named Amotekun Corps. This formed part of the resolutions reached at the roundtable on food security hosted by the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission on Wednesday in Ibadan.
The Southwest Governors’ Forum directed the Commission to convene the meeting last week with the mandate to fashion a regional agricultural template. The five honourable commissioners for agriculture from Ekiti, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Oyo—Ebenezer Boluwade, Bolu Owotomo, Olayato Aribo, Babatola Faseru, and Olasunkanmi Olaleye—were present at the meeting. Mr Emmanuel Audu, the permanent secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, represented the state’s commissioner.
In his opening remarks, the Director General of the Commission, Dr. Seye Oyeleye, said it is important to dispel unfounded rumours that the region has lost its capacity to produce food. ALSO READ: Ex-minister Adegoroye lauds Tinubu, Ayedatiwa for headhunting Ondo technocrats Therefore, in accordance with the Southwest Governors Forum’s directive, he charged the meeting to ” come up with recommendations that state governors can easily implement” within the next few months.
Other resolutions reached at the meeting were geared tow.