Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, announced on Thursday that Southern states in Nigeria have resolved to enhance inter-state and inter-regional trade to promote food security and self-sufficiency.

Speaking during a meeting with the newly appointed Governing Council of the Federal University of Agriculture (FUNAAB), led by Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Oba Abdul-Rasheed Ayorinde Olabomi, Governor Abiodun, who also chairs the Southern Governors' Forum (SGF), emphasized the potential for regional trade given the fertile land and human resources available in the South.

“We, the governors of the Southern states, have recognized that we must leverage our land and human capacity to foster inter-state and inter-regional trade. There is no reason why someone from the South East or South South should not buy yams or tomatoes from the South West, or why South West residents should not purchase rice from Ebonyi State,” he said. “We have everything we need to achieve food security and sufficiency in our region.”

Governor Abiodun revealed that Ogun State plans to establish Farmers’ Markets at strategic locations throughout the state as part of its food security efforts. These markets will be set up in Asero, Abeokuta, and Ogere along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, among other locations. He also announced that the Kara cattle market will be relocated to Ogere, providing a better environment for cattle merchants.

“Our Ministry of Agriculture is working on setting up Farmers’ Markets at key locations across the state. One market will be at Asero in Abeokuta, and another will be along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at Ogere, where we also plan to relocate the Kara cattle market. We believe these initiatives will benefit the many smallholder farmers in Ogun State,” he said.

Governor Abiodun stressed that his administration views agriculture as crucial for food security, employment creation, and revenue generation. He expressed support for FUNAAB’s role in advancing food security and pledged collaboration on initiatives like cassava production. He also assured that the Iyana-Camp to Alabata road project is under consideration by his administration.

Earlier, Oba Ayorinde Olabomi praised Governor Abiodun as one of Nigeria’s top governors and advocated for stronger collaboration between the state government and FUNAAB to address the food security challenges facing the nation. The Pro-Chancellor urged the governor to assist in reconstructing the Iyana-Camp to Alabata road, which has been damaged by truck traffic.