Ogun State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2027 general elections and the Senator representing Ogun West at the National Assembly, Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, popularly called Yayi, has empowered 2,557 farmers selected from across the state with farm equipment, inputs and cash grants.
Speaking during the programme held on Tuesday at the Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Ilaro, Adeola said that the empowerment initiative, which was the second edition, was aimed at reducing the challenges of low productivity, high cost of implements and limited access to finance.
At the event where the Senator noted that the gestures were part of the Renewed Hope Agenda and Food Security programme of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, beneficiaries received 10 tractors with full attachment, 250 haulage tricycles, 1,500 knapsack sprayers, 8,000 bags of NPK and Urea fertilizer, 1,000 solar and gasoline water pumps, 1,000 seed planters, 17 power tillers, seeds and seedlings, organic fertilisers and other tools.
Each farmer also got a cash grant of N100,000.
He cited the Federal Government’s milestones in agriculture, including the N100 billion National Agriculture Development Fund, the “Earn From the Soil” project, allocation of N350 billion for dam irrigation and acquisition of 2,000 tractors nationwide.
He also disclosed that N12 billion was budgeted for a new Ministry of Livestock, with ranches planned for Ogun and six other states.
Senator Adeola stated, “The reforms associated with the removal of oil subsidy and the foreign exchange market are yielding expected results and the economy is on a course to sustained growth. Inflation, particularly food inflation, has been on the downward spiral according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. From an inflation rate of 31.70% in February 2024, the headline inflation rate stood 15.91% as at June 2026. This is about a 50% drop in Inflation rate. Different market surveys also indicate a significant drop in prices of some basic food items in most markets over the last three and half years. The hitherto “ Ebi npa wa o” chant has virtually died down in the society.
“A major highlight of the Renewed Hope Agenda on agriculture of the President is the drive to endure all year-round farming with a target for three farming seasons annually. This target has led President Tinubu to allocate over N350 billion for reticulation and desilting of various dams across the nation by all River Basins Development Authorities to provide water for massive irrigation of farm lands. I am sure that Ogun-Osun River Basin Authority in Ogun State is part of the initiative and we are all poised to benefit from this laudable initiative pursuant of the three seasons annual farming calendar.”
The Ogun West Senator, who is also the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations, commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for complementing federal efforts through N700 million in inputs, free farmland for youths, the Ogun State Farmers Information System, and the operational Agro Cargo Airport.
Adeola recalled that in the maiden edition of the farmer empowerment programme, 5,910 farmers benefited directly or through shared equipment including 20 tractors, 184 tricycles, and over 10,000 bags of fertilizer.
He, however, urged beneficiaries not to sell the inputs, but to use them to increase production across at least three farming seasons annually, disclosing that a central management team will oversee the tractors and motorised equipment for sustainability.
While declaring that he will continue the programme when elected governor in 2027, he promised that he would continue to facilitate more capacity building training and empowerment capable of producing “billionaire farmers in Ogun”.
Senator Adeola reaffirmed his commitment to infrastructural development, healthcare, education and security in Ogun West.
