Barely two months into his administration in December 2024, Governor Monday Okpebholo took a bold and strategic step to reposition Edo State’s agricultural sector by signing an Executive Order establishing the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investments (FRILIA).
The framework underscores the administration’s resolve to align agricultural expansion with internationally accepted best practices, while safeguarding the interests of host communities.
FRILIA provides a clear and transparent guide for land acquisition and resettlement for large-scale agribusiness investments, ensuring that such processes are conducted responsibly and inclusively.
While guaranteeing shared benefits between private investors and surrounding communities, the framework promotes harmony, reduces land-related conflicts, and strengthens investor confidence. It also reinforces Edo State’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for responsible agribusiness operations as a key driver of economic development.
Beyond policy formulation, Governor Okpebholo has demonstrated strong political will in translating vision into action. In September, the state witnessed the official commissioning of farm machinery procured by the government to support mechanised agriculture.
The equipment was commissioned by the President of the Nigerian Senate, Distinguished Senator Godswill Obot Akpabio, highlighting the national significance of Edo State’s agricultural drive.
The commissioned equipment included 30 tractors, five bulldozers, and one low-bed trailer, critical assets expected to enhance land preparation, improve farm efficiency, and scale up production across the state. The investment reflects Governor Okpebholo’s farmer-friendly posture and his determination to make agriculture attractive, modern, and profitable.
Further reinforcing this agenda, the administration reactivated state-owned farms, including the Udomi farm project, among others. These interventions are part of a broader strategy to revitalise dormant agricultural assets, attract private participation, and stimulate value-chain development across Edo State.
Reaffirming his commitment to agricultural expansion, Governor Okpebholo, upon assuming office, increased the agriculture allocation in the inherited budget, which stood at about ₦5 billion.
Presenting the 2026 budget to the Edo State House of Assembly, the governor outlined a dramatic scale-up in funding and outcomes in the sector.
He declared, “On agriculture, with the encouragement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, we expanded the agriculture budget from ₦6.9 billion to ₦57 billion. Over 400 hectares of farmland have been cultivated. Harvesting has begun across multiple farm clusters. We are fighting food insecurity with action, and not long speeches,”
The impact of these reforms has also resonated strongly with local and international investors. Towards the end of the first year of his administration, Edo State recorded a landmark achievement with the announcement of a $100 million foreign direct investment (FDI) by SIAT and its parent company into Presco PLC’s operations. The investment, described by the company’s chairman as historic, is the first of its scale in Nigeria’s agricultural sector.
The announcement followed a courtesy visit by Presco PLC’s management team, led by the Chairman, Mr. Rasheed Sarumi, and the Managing Director, Mr. Raji George, to Government House, Benin City.
During the visit, Mr. Sarumi commended Governor Okpebholo for providing a stable governance structure, improved security, and a conducive business environment that influenced SIAT’s $100 million investment decision.
He further noted that Nigeria received only $250 million in total FDI within the year, making Presco’s investment a significant contribution to both Edo State and the national economy.
Through the implementation of FRILIA, increased budgetary commitment, strategic mechanisation, revitalisation of state-owned farms, and the attraction of record-breaking foreign investment, Governor Monday Okpebholo has positioned agriculture as a cornerstone of Edo State’s SHINE agenda, which is a visionary roadmap that places Security, Health, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Agriculture, and Education at the heart of Edo’s transformation.
His administration’s approach, anchored on responsibility, inclusiveness, and results, signals a new era of agribusiness growth focused on food security, job creation, and sustainable economic prosperity.
