Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Wednesday inaugurated the Steering Committee of the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investment (FRILIA) — an initiative aimed at boosting food production, securing livelihoods, and ensuring fair returns for host communities.
Speaking at the event held at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, Aiyedatiwa said the initiative represents another bold step by his administration to guarantee food security and inclusive development through sustainable collaboration among host communities, local governments, and the state government.
“The primary aim of FRILIA is to balance investment opportunities with community rights and benefits. It creates an enabling environment to protect host communities and ensure they derive premium returns on their land used for agricultural purposes in line with national food security goals,” the governor said.
He explained that the framework emerged from an agreement of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum in partnership with the World Bank, the Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), and other stakeholders, adding ” This will enable government to secure adequate agricultural land to ensure food security in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,”.
The governor revealed that the state has already secured 26,000 hectares of land at Ori Ohin in Ose Local Government Area for a pilot scheme, following extensive stakeholder meetings with community leaders, landowners, tenants, and the local council. Efforts to secure additional land are ongoing.
Aiyedatiwa, who will chair the Steering Committee, outlined its terms of reference to include supervising FRILIA projects in the state, monitoring finances and implementation, and conducting post-project evaluations.
He disclosed that the state government has earmarked ₦7.5 billion for the agricultural sector to support the seamless implementation of the programme.
He also charged members of the committee to discharge their duties diligently and uphold transparency, stressing that FRILIA would serve as a model for inclusive, community-driven agricultural investment in the state.
Earlier, Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola, described FRILIA as a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural and land reform agenda.
“The framework provides a robust platform to ensure land-based investments are conducted responsibly, inclusively, and transparently — delivering tangible and mutual benefits to both investors and landowners. In doing so, it safeguards community rights, fosters investor confidence, and creates a win-win environment where livelihoods are improved,” Akinola said.
