By Abbas Nazil
Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has declared that his administration’s N50 billion investment in agriculture is beginning to yield tangible results, as he commissioned two key food security initiatives — the ‘Ounje Ekiti Retail Outlet’ and the “Ilu Eye Aggregation Hub” — in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday.
The governor said the twin projects are a direct response to the food security mandate issued by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and part of a broader mission to eliminate hunger and poverty by ensuring that most food consumed in the state is produced locally.
He described the initiatives as strategic solutions to persistent challenges in the agricultural sector, particularly issues related to post-harvest losses, poor storage, inefficient market linkages, and high food prices.
The “Ilu Eye Aggregation Hub,” a state-registered company, purchases food commodities directly from farmers, stores them in bulk, and ensures availability throughout the year.
Meanwhile, the “Ounje Ekiti Retail Outlet” sells these food items to the public at rates below market value to enhance affordability.
According to Governor Oyebanji, the state government has already aggregated significant quantities of food through the hub, including 750 metric tonnes of white beans, 239.167 metric tonnes of rice paddy, 101.54 metric tonnes of maize, and 1,716 bags of garri — all sourced from local farmers within Ekiti.
He noted that the program is not a short-term palliative, but a carefully structured mechanism to build a sustainable, affordable, and equitable food supply system for Ekiti residents.
Oyebanji emphasised that retail sales would be strictly monitored to prevent hoarding, profiteering, and the reemergence of exploitative middlemen.
The initiative is also expected to boost farmers’ confidence by offering them guaranteed markets and price stability.
He said the program is part of the recommendations of the Ekiti State Food Security Committee, which was created to design long-term agricultural strategies.
The governor also stated that the initiative reflects his administration’s commitment to repositioning agriculture as a core pillar of the state’s economy.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, hailed the governor’s leadership, saying the food distribution system is a game changer for Ekiti’s agricultural landscape.
Boluwade stressed that the new retail and aggregation system would stabilise prices, prevent food inflation during seasonal droughts, and limit the influence of middlemen who often exploit both farmers and consumers.
He clarified that the program is not a relief effort, but a structured economic policy aimed at sustainable food affordability.
The Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Akintunde Oyebode, also praised the initiative, saying it aligns with the administration’s goal of shared prosperity and long-term food sufficiency.
He affirmed that the investment will guarantee food availability throughout the year and ensure that no citizen of Ekiti State goes hungry.
