By Mosope Kehinde
The Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the State Government to conduct a comprehensive audit on the Integrated Agricultural Silo Complex Project at Awe in Oyo East Local Government.
In a motion presented to the house by Mr Olorunpoto Rahman, the call became necessary to assess the current status of the project, the total amount expended, and to take appropriate action based on the findings that emanated its abandonment.
Mr. Olorunpoto noted that the purpose and critical roles of the Integrated Agricultural Silo in curbing the menace of food scarcity in Oyo State and Nation at large call for urgent attention that will yield positive influence to ensure its aim of food surplus.
“This infrastructure was intended to reduce post – harvest losses, stabilize food prices, and support farmers by ensuring that surplus produce could be stored and made available during periods of scarcity”
“Given the current skyrocketed prices of food in Nigeria, completion of this project would go a long way to boost food supply and guarantee food security in the State and the Country at large.” The motion stated
He lamented that the Project, with a planned capacity of 10,000 metric tonnes was envisioned to be the largest and first of its kind in Nigeria.
The lawmaker added that the project has been abandoned despite the expenditure of over #1.5 billion and over 11 years of work on – going.
House however directed its Standing Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development to engage all stakeholders on the way forward and report back their findings to the House.
