The residents of Mapara in Ogun State have urged the state governor, Mr Dapo Abiodun to fix the dilapidated road leading to their rice plantation.
The residents deplored the deteriorating condition of the road saying it has had adverse effect to farming activities and daily lives.
It was learnt that the community recently celebrated its first rice harvest, marking the beginning of a new chapter in local agriculture.
Despite the challenges, the residents said they remained optimistic about the future, relying on the governor’s promises to enhance their livelihoods.
Speaking in an interview, the chairman of Makogi area, Mr Owolabi Akeem, emphasised that the rice plantation belongs to the Ogun State Government, dismissing rumours of its ownership by persons from Kebbi State.
“We are grateful for Governor Dapo Abiodun’s support, which has increased employment opportunities and contributed to the growth of Ogun State’s food supply, and also call on the public to disregard the rumour spreading around about an individual from Kebbi proving ownership of the rice plantation. That is false; the Ogun State Government fully owns this plantation,” he said.
Akeem expressed concern about the deplorable condition of the road that leads to the rice plantation noting that the poor state of the road had begun to impact the transport and sale of the harvested rice.
“If you have farmland and the road is bad, the cost of production and selling the rice will be affected. If we have good roads, many people will come around to purchase the rice.
“We in Makogi out of Ogun State are contributing to the food arrangement and we are happy about that. We thank the governor for approving and awarding us a contract to construct the roads.
“Before the governor came, we didn’t toil with infrastructural activities in our area. We have electricity, a police station, and a health centre up to date. We are working on the roads too as you can see. And we pray God continues to help the governor,” he said.
Similarly, the general secretary of the Makogi area, Mrs. Adeola Adeyeri, underscored the economic potential of the rice farm, noting that it had attracted investors and encouraged local land purchases for rice cultivation.
Meanwhile, the state commissioner of works, Mr Ade Akinsanya, appealed to the residents of the area to exercise patience, saying the Magboro Road project was already underway.
“The task to fix the road is already in progress from Magboro junction down to Makogi. The residents should be calm and patient,” he added.
