Sam Philip
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has promised to boost food production in Ondo State.
He stated this on Tuesday when he visited the oil palm estate of SAO Agro-allied Services LTD at Ore in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state.
The governor also promised to create jobs in the agric sector for the development of the state.
Aiyedatiwa described the 10,120 hectares oil palm estate as the largest agricultural plantation in the State, commending the investors for the huge investment in agriculture.
He said: “This investment has gone beyond just planting palm trees; the company has built roads.”
Moreover, the governor reassured that his administration would support large-scale agribusinesses including SAO Agro and JB Farms which are currently driving large-scale investments and creating employment opportunities.
“Both companies are arguably the largest employers of labour after the State Government, employing about 3,000 and 5,000 people respectively,” the governor said.
Speaking on security of life and property in the state, the governor ssured the investors of adequate security for their investments, Aiyedatiwa reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing security, infrastructure, and an enabling environment for agribusinesses to thrive in the state.
As a symbolic gesture of his commitment, the governor and the state Commissioner of Finance, Omowunmi Isaac, planted a palm tree each, reinforcing his administration’s dedication to SAO Agro’s laudable oil palm programme.
The governor acknowledged the company’s efforts in infrastructural development, with over 375kms of rural road network and over 16 bridges constructed so far by the company.
He, however, ordered tthat all illegal farmers on SAO Agro’s land should vacate the concessioned areas immediately.
“The state government will provide farmland to the displaced illegal farmers, while SAO Agro has pledged to support them with over 100,000 hybrid cocoa, oil palm and plantain suckers,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He stressed that over the past year, SAO Agro has expanded its oil palm operations, transplanting over 650,000 seedlings and nurturing an additional 520,000 in its nurseries.
According to him, the company has also invested in large-scale drone technology, hi-tech irrigation and sustainable land development practices that have significantly improved crop yields and efficiency.
Responding ,the CEO of SAO Agro, Ayo Sotinrin, appreciated the governor and the support of the state government, highlighting the company’s long-term vision.
He said: “At SAO Agro, we believe that agriculture is not just about food production—it’s about nation-building. We remain committed to developing an agricultural ecosystem that fosters prosperity for farmers, communities, and the entire nation. We appreciate Governor Aiyedatiwa’s encouragement and look forward to collaborating further to drive agricultural transformation.”
“As SAO Agro continues its trajectory of growth, the company is gearing up for new milestones in 2025, including expanding land-clearing operations to cultivate an additional 10,000 hectares for oil palm and cocoa production and advancing plans to rehabilitate a 30,000-metric-ton-capacity cocoa processing factory to enhance Nigeria’s agro-processing capabilities.”
As part of its corporate social responsibility, SAO Agro has facilitated other community infrastructure projects, including dam repairs, roads, health centre rehabilitation and continuously providing scholarships for all youths in the community who want formal education.
He said: “We have have solar-powered over 145 health centres, 150 SMEs, and 420 Households in Ondo State as part of our Corporate Social Responsibility. These initiatives align with the company’s mission to ensure that agricultural progress translates into tangible benefits for local communities.”