The Oyo State Government said it withdrew from a proposed maize export arrangement with Botswana after studies showed that large-scale shipments would not be commercially viable.
The government said the decision was intended to protect farmers from potential losses and redirect attention towards more profitable agricultural products.
In a statement issued in Ibadan, Governor Seyi Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said the administration explored the bilateral arrangement during its first term.
He said the proposal was designed to secure market access for farmers and generate foreign exchange earnings.
However, assessments by the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency found that exporting maize at the proposed scale was not economically viable.
The government said it remained committed to international agricultural partnerships but was prioritising stronger commercial opportunities, particularly in cassava production and processing.
It listed the establishment of OYSADA, the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Park and the ongoing Ijaye Agribusiness Industrial Hub among its efforts to expand the agricultural economy.
According to the statement, the African Development Bank has recognised the Fasola park as Nigeria’s first Agricultural Transformation Centre.
The government also cited Amotekun’s rural security operations, road construction and the Light Up Oyo initiative as interventions intended to improve productivity and reduce post-harvest losses.
It said Oyo’s early adoption of the African Continental Free Trade Area protocol had opened opportunities for broader continental trade beyond a single bilateral agreement.
The administration maintained that its agricultural decisions were guided by commercial viability, reliable data and the long-term interests of farmers.
