Oyo denies plan to sell Agodi fish farm

The Oyo State Government has denied allegations by the All Progressives Congress that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration plans to sell or transfer the Agodi Government Fish Farm in Ibadan to a private developer.

The government described the allegation as false, insisting that there was no plan to sell, cede or otherwise transfer the facility to any private interest.

The governor’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, stated this in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan on Friday.

The denial followed an allegation by the Oyo State chapter of the APC that the government planned to cede the fish farm to Baywood Estate, a private housing development near the Agodi Government Secretariat.

The opposition party claimed that the alleged plan was part of efforts to expand the estate after the destruction of a conservation forest in the area.

Olanrewaju said, “Its latest claim regarding an alleged plan by Governor Seyi Makinde to sell or cede the Agodi Government Fish Farm is yet another reckless tale, unsupported by facts, evidence, or any official record.

“For the avoidance of doubt, there is no plan by the Oyo State Government to sell, cede, or otherwise transfer the Agodi Government Fish Farm to any private developer.

“The allegation exists only in the imagination of those who appear more interested in generating headlines than engaging in honest public discourse.”

The government spokesman challenged the APC to produce documents or official records to support its allegation, saying the party had not presented any evidence of a government decision to dispose of the facility. 

According to him, the opposition relied on rumours and speculation to create the impression that the government intended to transfer the public asset to private ownership.

Olanrewaju said since assuming office, Makinde has demonstrated commitment to the development of the state through strategic investments in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture and economic expansion.

He said the administration has consistently pursued policies aimed at preserving, strengthening and optimising public assets for the collective good.

He said, “The opposition’s attempt to portray every development initiative as a scheme to appropriate public property only underscores its inability to distinguish between strategic development and the negligence that defined previous administrations.”

The government spokesman challenged the APC to produce documents or official records to support its allegation, saying the party had not presented any evidence of a government decision to dispose of the facility.

“The Agodi Government Fish Farm remains a valuable public asset, and any matter relating to its operation, management or future development will always be guided by the overriding public interest and in accordance with the law,” he added.

The Agodi Government Fish Farm in Ibadan dates back to the early years of fish farming development in Nigeria.

Academic research on aquaculture in Ibadan traces the establishment of the facility to the mid-1950s, during the colonial era, when it was set up as part of efforts to develop fish production in the country.

The facility subsequently became a model demonstration farm in collaboration with the University of Ibadan, supplying table fish and fish seeds to other states and supporting the development of fish farming.