By Musliudeen Adebayo

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Owolabi Akinloye Olakulehin Ige Olakulehin 1 has said Ibadan has told investors that the city has arable land suitable for agricultural production.

The traditional ruler said this when he received the Belgian Ambassador to Nigeria, Pieter Leenknegt who paid him a courtesy visit at the new Olubadan Palace, on Monday.

Olakulehin who spoke through the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, noted that there are vast hectares of arable land in Ibadan suitable and available for agricultural production which require international partnership, funding and support to boost food production in the nation.

He listed some locations of arable land including Egbeda, Ona Ara, Oluyole, Ido, Lagelu and Akinyele local government areas where potentials for large-scale production of agricultural products abound in Ibadan land.

He said, “Kabiesi is happy to receive you and your team this morning. Ibadan is one of the largest cities in Africa.

“We have major resources here in Ibadan. We have vast arable land in Ibadan that is suitable for agricultural production in large scale quantity.

“Land is available abundantly in Oluyole, Egbeda, Ona Ara, Ido, Lagelu and Akinyele that are suitable for agricultural production. We want you to tap from the opportunity to boost food production, especially at this point in our nation”.

Leenknegt in his address, said his visit was to tap from the experiences of the Olubadan and the council for a successful foray in Nigeria’s agricultural sector during his tenure in Nigeria.

The Belgian Ambassador who was accompanied by the Advisor in Economic Diplomacy for Nigeria, Kingdom of Belgium, Genco Sanli and Manager, Resource Mobilisation, Protocol and External Liaison of International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) Florence Oluwatoyin Oke had earlier disclosed the Belgian Government’s activities and interventions within Nigeria’s agricultural sector.

He added that his visit was also aimed at enhancing agricultural production, trade and finance between Nigeria and Belgium.

“We have spent some days at IITA. Agriculture is one of the areas we are working on which is in line with the agenda of the current administration in the country. Cocoa production. We have CRIN in Ibadan. Oyo state has been a major producer of cocoa.

“We want to see how we can boost cocoa production in Nigeria and through this we will enhance trade and finance. This brought me to Oyo State.

“So, I am very glad to be here and I will also be glad to have words of wisdom from you that will guide me for a successful tenure in the office”‘.