The Oyo State Government has explained why it pulled out of a proposed maize export arrangement with Botswana, saying data analysis showed that large-scale maize exports were not economically viable and could undermine the interests of local farmers.
The government said the decision was driven by the need to protect Oyo farmers and ensure that the state’s agricultural investments were directed towards more profitable and sustainable value chains.
The clarification was contained in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju.
According to the statement, the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde had, during its first term, explored a bilateral arrangement with Botswana aimed at guaranteeing an off-take market for maize and generating foreign exchange earnings for local farmers.
However, comprehensive studies conducted by the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) later showed that the economics of large-scale maize export were not viable.
The government said the decision to pull back from the arrangement should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from international agricultural engagement, but as a strategic shift towards agricultural value chains with stronger commercial prospects, particularly cassava.
The statement highlighted several agribusiness initiatives undertaken by the administration, including the ongoing Ijaye Agribusiness Industrial Hub, the establishment of OYSADA and the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Park.
It said the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Park has been recognised by the African Development Bank as Nigeria’s first Agricultural Transformation Centre.
The government also pointed to measures aimed at improving agricultural productivity and reducing post-harvest losses, including improved rural security through Amotekun, rural road projects and the Light Up Oyo initiative.
It added that Oyo State’s early domestication of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol had positioned the state to pursue broader continental trade opportunities beyond a single bilateral arrangement.
The government maintained that the decision on the Botswana maize deal reflected its broader approach of using data, competitiveness and long-term value to guide agricultural policy and build a sustainable economy for farmers and the state.