Oyo Cocoa rejuvenation project gets over ₦3bn as the state government expands investments in agriculture, health, climate action, and security

The Oyo Cocoa rejuvenation project received a significant lift on Wednesday as the state government approved more than three billion naira to restore cocoa production as a central pillar of the economy.

Also read: Oyo Approves N3bn Cocoa Rejuvenation, €50m Health Loan

The development was announced in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, who described the initiative as a powerful step towards reclaiming the state’s historical advantage in the sector.

According to the commissioner, the Oyo Cocoa Rejuvenation Project will operate through a Public Private Partnership coordinated by the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency and the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture.

He said the government was acting proactively as global supply shifts create opportunities for new producers, especially following disruptions in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.

Oyelade explained that Oyo ranks fourth among the eighteen cocoa producing states in Nigeria.

He added that the project, valued at more than two million dollars, would be financed in three tranches over the next three years to boost local cultivation, strengthen value chains, and position the state as a reliable supplier.

The commissioner said the State Executive Council also aligned with South West governors on the need for State Police. He noted that declining interest among young people in joining the military made the domestication of community policing increasingly urgent.

He praised Governor Seyi Makinde’s foresight in procuring two surveillance aircraft to support security operations and commended the state’s continued investment in Amotekun, which he described as the best equipped in the region.

Oyelade revealed that the council had further approved fifty million euros for the Oyo State Health Care Initiative.

The loan, supported by the French Government and cleared by the Federal Ministry of Finance earlier this month, will fund extensive upgrades of health facilities and equipment.

The State House of Assembly has already granted approval to enable access to the funds.

The council also adopted a comprehensive Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Policy to strengthen public health outcomes. The approval, he said, positions the state to access financing from the Federal Government, the World Bank, the African Development Bank, and other development partners.

The policy aims to eliminate open defecation, expand safe sanitation, and integrate hygiene awareness across communities.

In another decision, the council approved the establishment of Climate Action Plans and Policies alongside the engagement of a Green Energy Agency.

The arrangement is supported by a bank guarantee of two hundred and seventy million naira, enabling the agency to drive greener and more resilient energy systems.

The Business Enabling Reforms Action Plan for 2026 was also endorsed. Oyelade said the plan is a mandatory requirement for participation in the national programme on business-friendly reforms.

The council approved four hundred million naira for implementation to ensure the state meets all eligibility standards.

Also read: Oyo State Unveils ₦891.98B Budget for Economic Expansion

The commissioner said the decisions reflected a bold and coordinated approach to governance, combining agricultural revival with economic reform, climate resilience, and improved public security.