By James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta
The 2027 governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola has proposed the establishment of a Commodity and Exchange Commission in the State as part of measures to provide farmers with a guaranteed market for their produce.
Adeola, made the proposal while interacting with journalists as he outlined his agricultural plans ahead of the 2027 election.
He said the proposed commission would serve as an off-taker, purchasing agricultural produce from farmers, processing the products and creating opportunities for local and international markets.
According to him, the arrangement would reduce the burden on farmers, who currently have to search for buyers after harvesting.
“We want to be the off-taker. We want to buy it off them,” he said.
Adeola said the government would seek to create a system in which farmers could sell their produce promptly, receive payment and return to the farm for another production cycle.
He argued that such an arrangement could help support more frequent farming seasons and reduce the pressure on farmers to wait until they had completely sold their existing stock before returning to production.
The senator also pledged to promote mechanised farming rather than dependence on subsistence agriculture.
He said he had previously distributed tractors and other agricultural equipment to farmers in Ogun State and would build on such interventions if elected.
Adeola said the state would seek to expand access to tractors, other agricultural machinery and transportation equipment to improve productivity.
“We have the scale, we have everything. We measure it, pay you, and from there, you return to your farm,” he said.
Adeola’s agricultural proposal comes against the backdrop of his broader campaign emphasis on food security and economic empowerment.
He said his proposed agricultural policies would complement existing efforts while seeking to increase production, improve farmers’ incomes and expand the state’s role in agricultural value chains.
In area of job creation, Adeola pledged to pursue a stronger partnership between the State government and industries operating in the state, with a focus on employment, tax revenue and local economic development.
He argued that Ogun’s industrial base had not translated sufficiently into state revenue and employment opportunities because many companies operating in the state maintain their headquarters and senior management structures in Lagos.
Adeola said he would encourage companies operating in the State to establish regional offices in Abeokuta and retain more senior-level functions within the state.
He also proposed closer collaboration with industries on employment opportunities for qualified Ogun residents.
“For every industry, why can’t you give me 100?” he asked, arguing that companies should create more opportunities for people from the state.
He said qualified Ogun residents should receive priority consideration for available jobs while maintaining partnerships between government and industry.
Adeola also spoke about the state’s mineral resources, promising to take a more active role in the regulation and economic development of the mining sector.
He criticised a situation in which companies obtain approvals at the federal level and subsequently conduct mining activities in the State without what he considers adequate state involvement.
“I will be the Chief Miner of this state,” he said, adding that he would seek to ensure that the state’s interests were protected in the sector.
On urban development, Adeola proposed the creation of additional new-town development areas, particularly in locations where expansion could accommodate new housing and economic activity.
He said Abeokuta’s older residential areas and family houses should be preserved while new urban centres were developed elsewhere.
He also promised to address environmental challenges along the Ogun-Lagos border, including the proliferation of shanties and trailers.
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