Oyo State Acting Governor, Barr. Bayo Lawal, has officially inaugurated the Steering and Technical Committees for the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land Intensive-Investment in Agriculture (FRILIA). This initiative, part of the Disbursement Link Indicator for the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), aims to enhance agricultural investment and land acquisition for commercial agriculture in the state.
The inauguration took place on Friday at the Executive Chamber of the Governor's Office in Ibadan. During the event, Governor Lawal emphasized that the FRILIA program is aligned with Governor Seyi Makinde’s vision of improving the business landscape and attracting investors, particularly in the agribusiness sector.
"This World Bank initiative, in collaboration with the Nigeria Governors' Forum, is a three-year results-based program focusing on resource management and control from 2023 to 2025," Lawal explained. He urged committee members to leverage their expertise to ensure the project's success, underscoring the reliance of various agencies on their guidance.
“FRILIA is designed to promote ease of doing business in Nigeria by fostering a favorable environment for large-scale agricultural investments that benefit both investors and host communities,” Lawal added. The program is rooted in four key principles: environmental and social sustainability; protection of land rights; state land acquisition and resettlement; and overarching investment principles.
The Acting Governor highlighted the urgent need for the committees to engage effectively following their inauguration, stating that their actions would bolster Oyo State’s appeal to private investors and reduce potential conflicts between communities and investors regarding land.
The Steering Committee, chaired by the Deputy Governor, comprises 14 members, while the Technical Committee, led by the Commissioner for Lands, Housing, and Urban Development, includes 15 members.
The event was attended by notable figures, including the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, represented by Justice Ezekiel Ajayi, Deputy Chief of Staff, Honourable Fola Oyekunle, and other government officials and stakeholders in agriculture.
In concluding the ceremony, Lawal expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for signing the FRILIA Executive Order, further solidifying the state’s commitment to advancing agricultural initiatives.