Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has emphasized the need for stronger regional collaboration in agriculture and security, calling for a united front in achieving food sovereignty across the Southwest.
Governor Abiodun made this known during a visit to his Oyo State counterpart, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, where both leaders held a closed-door meeting to discuss pressing issues of food production and security in the region.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Abiodun noted that the time had come for Ogun and Oyo states to harness their shared cultural, economic, and historical ties for the mutual benefit of their people.
“I have come to see my brother, Governor Seyi Makinde, to discuss matters of mutual interest.”
“Ogun State was part of the old Western Region where Ibadan was the capital. We have very strong ties, both cultural and economic, with the people and government of Oyo State,” he said.
He stressed the importance of strengthening economic cooperation, particularly in agriculture, as a step toward ensuring food security and regional self-sufficiency.
“You can see that every day in our subregion, we continue to host major investors, and because of the proximity of both states on so many fronts, a time like this presented itself for us to look at how to ensure that we strengthen that economic relationship in the agricultural sector as we strive for food security and sovereignty,” Abiodun said.
He commended the agricultural initiatives already in place in Oyo State and revealed that Ogun is equally investing in farming across several key areas including Odeda, Imeko, and Yewa North—locations which share boundaries with Oyo.
On security, Governor Abiodun highlighted the importance of peace and protection in fostering economic growth, adding that the Western Nigeria Security Network, Amotekun, has continued to play a vital role in regional safety.
“Our discussions also touched on security. We both agree that a safe environment is non-negotiable if we want to attract investment and improve the lives of our people. We appreciate the efforts of Amotekun in maintaining peace across the region,” he said.
