Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, hosted his Ogun State counterpart, Prince Dapo Abiodun, in Ibadan as both states explore deeper collaboration in agriculture, security, and economic development.
The two governors held a closed-door meeting at the Oyo State Government House, Agodi, where they discussed matters of mutual interest and strategic regional cooperation.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, Governor Abiodun highlighted the strong historical, cultural, and economic bonds between Ogun and Oyo states, stating that the time is ripe for both states to leverage these ties for regional advancement.
“Ogun State proudly remembers that the Old Western Region, with Ibadan as its capital, is where we evolved from,” he said. “We share strong cultural, historical, and economic connections with Oyo State, and this meeting is about strengthening those ties.”
Governor Abiodun noted that both states are at the forefront of attracting major investors, particularly in agriculture, and emphasised the need to work together to achieve food security and sovereignty.
“We discussed how to collaborate in turning our region into the breadbasket of Nigeria. While Oyo is doing a lot in Fasola, we are making significant investments in Odeda, Imeko, and Iwano—border towns with Oyo State. So, synergy is both strategic and necessary,” he added.
He also confirmed that security was a major focus of their conversation, particularly efforts to enhance regional safety through initiatives like the Western Nigeria Security Network (Amotekun), which has improved local intelligence gathering and policing.
“Security is key to socio-economic development. We discussed how to further strengthen our joint efforts to ensure the safety of lives and property across our borders,” Governor Abiodun said.
Recall that Governor Makinde had earlier visited Ogun State, where both leaders pledged to embark on peer reviews to harness each state’s comparative advantages in governance and development.
Further details of their discussion, Governor Abiodun stated, will be revealed by Governor Makinde at the appropriate time.
