The Ogun State Government, under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun, has conducted an Infrastructure Needs Assessment for the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) programme. The exercise facilitated by Credo Consulting aims to identify and prioritise key infrastructure needs across participating Local Government Areas (LGAs) to strengthen agricultural value chains and rural economies.

Governor Abiodun, represented by the Hon. Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, made this known during a Stakeholders’ Engagement Workshop at the Mitros Residence, Ibara, Abeokuta, saying that the Infrastructure Needs Assessment served as the foundation upon which the future of the State’s agro-Industrial ambition was built.

According to him, the provision of appropriate and sustainable infrastructure such as rural access roads, irrigation schemes, water systems, market storage and agro-processing facilities was essential for ensuring the efficient movement of inputs and outputs. This, he added, would help reduce post-harvest losses and attract private sector investment into the agricultural value chain of the State.

"I commend our partners and all the technical teams involved in this validation exercise for their dedication and professionalism in carrying out the needs assessment,” the Governor said. “I also appreciate the presence of all stakeholders here today. Your voices and insights are vital to ensuring that the SAPZ interventions truly reflect the realities and aspirations of our communities.”

The Governor urged stakeholders to engage constructively and collaborate in aligning priorities that would deliver long-term impact, especially in strengthening value chains, attracting private investment and improving the livelihoods of farmers and agripreneurs across the State.

In his remarks, Executive Chairman of Yewa North Local Government and State Secretary of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Dr. Olusola Akinbode, commended the Governor for his exemplary leadership. He stressed that beyond project execution, ownership by communities is key to sustainability. To this end, he noted that representatives would be drawn from each communities for proper monitoring and maintenance of facilities.

The National Programme Coordinator (NPC), Dr. Yusuf Kabiru, represented by Dr. Oyesola Oyebanji, commended the State Government for its commitment to agricultural development. He stated that programmes implemented by the State are consistently well executed, appealing to all Chairmen, community leaders and other stakeholders to take ownership of the SAPZ facilities in order to ensure efficiency, productivity and sustainability.

Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, appreciated all stakeholders for their collaborative efforts in ensuring that the Infrastructure Needs Assessment of the SAPZ initiative reflected the realities, needs and aspirations of government actors, private sector partners and especially the farming communities that SAPZ seeks to serve.

The State Programme Engineer, Engr. Seun Semowo, took participants through the identified infrastructure needs across the programme communities prior to their validation.

Other participants who presented additional infrastructure needs from their respective Local Government Areas (LGA), included Mr. Akinwale Abiodun, Financial Secretary, Community Alliance Forum (CAF), Obafemi Owode; Mr. Oluwasuyi Olaniyi, Secretary, Multi stakeholder Forum( MAF) Ijebu East; Mr. Akinwale Abiola, Director of Agricultural Services who spoke on behalf of  Odogbolu LGA  and Mr. Olugbenga Popoola, Member, Community Alliance Forum, Yewa North.

The workshop brought together a wide range of stakeholders from   Traditional rulers, Members of the Steering Committee, the Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and representatives from various Ministries, Departments and Agencies such as the Ministries of Works, Bureau of Lands and Survey, Housing, Finance, Agriculture, Industry, Trade and Investment, Rural Development,  Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Programme (RAAMP)Ogun Osun  River Basin Development Authority (RBDA) and Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme  (OGADEP)