Oyo Acting Gov Inaugurates Committees on Agric Revenue Expansion

Oyo State Acting Governor, Barr. Bayo Lawal, has inaugurated the Steering and Technical Committees of the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land Intensive-Investment in Agriculture (FRILIA), a Disbursement Link Indicator for the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).

The SABER programme is a programme for result initiative of the World Bank, which is critical to agriculture and land acquisition for commercial agriculture.

The Acting Governor inaugurated the two committees on Friday at an event held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, noting that the programme aligns with the efforts of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde to expand the scope of doing business and attract more investors to the state, especially through agribusiness.

According to him, the World Bank Project, which is in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), is a three-year performance for result programme with relevant stakeholders on resource control and management from 2023 to 2025.

Barr. Lawal charged the members of the two committees to bring their wealth of experience to bear on the project, as according to him, all other agencies will depend on them.

He said: “You are all welcome to the inauguration of Steering and Technical Committees of Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land Intensive-Investment in Agriculture (FRILIA) of the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER).

“This is a World Bank Project in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and the objective is to promote the Ease of Doing business in Nigeria.

“It is a Three-Year performance for result-based programme with relevant stakeholders on resource control and management covering 2023-2025.

“FRILIA is one of the Disbursement Link Indicators (DLI) of State Action on Business Enabling Environment (SABER) programme critical to the agricultural and land acquisition for commercial agriculture.

“As indicated, this project is backed up by the World Bank and it is to expand the ease of doing business in Oyo State.

“FRILIA is based on four cardinal principles namely; environmental and social sustainability of investment; recognition and protection of land rights; state land acquisition and resettlement and overarching investment principles.

“The above are the principles upon which FRILIA will be standing and within these principles, the agency of government is already captured and that is why your committees must hit the ground running immediately after the inauguration.

“The objective of FRILIA is to aid the state government’s effort in attracting large scale agricultural investments that guarantee shared benefits for the investors and host communities on land and to also aid Oyo State in compliance with best international practice on the ease of doing business especially for export.

“It is also to drive the state’s economy with agribusiness using the Public, Private Development Partnership (PPDP) business model; provide a responsible framework that will encourage sound social and environment management practices; enhance Oyo State’s attractiveness to private investments and also minimise the potential conflicts between communities and investors on land.

“The FRILIA structure involves the establishment of power and function of steering committee; establishment of power and function of technical committee; designing principles applicable to the investment process incorporating FRILIA; establishment of Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM).

“It is in the light of all these that I want to therefore use this opportunity to thank His Excellency for signing the FRILIA Executive Order on 27th December, 2023.

“I hereby inaugurate the members of both the Steering and Technical Committee today, 30th August, 2024.”
The Steering Committee, which is to be chaired by the Deputy Governor, has 14 members while the 15-member Technical Committee is to be headed by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

The event had in attendance the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima represented by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi; Deputy Chief of Staff, Honourable Fola Oyekunle; chairman, Civil Service Commission, Mr Biodun Aderibigbe and the Director of Agriculture, FRILIA projects in local government areas among other attendees.