Reported by Weng Patrick Atokor l Journalist at Weng Global
The Oyo State Government has dismissed allegations by the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration plans to sell, transfer or hand over the Agodi Government Fish Farm in Ibadan to a private developer.
The government described the allegation as reckless and misleading, insisting that there is no plan to dispose of the state-owned agricultural facility.
The controversy emerged on Friday, November 6, 2026, after the Oyo State chapter of the APC accused the Makinde administration of planning to cede the fish farm to Baywood Estate, a private housing development located around the Agodi Government Secretariat area.
The disagreement has brought renewed attention to the management of government-owned land and public assets in Oyo State, particularly properties around the Agodi area of Ibadan. Daily Post Nigeria +1
Oyo Government Rejects Allegations
Governor Seyi Makinde, through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, rejected the allegations, saying the opposition party was acting on inaccurate information.
The governor’s media aide maintained that the state government had no intention of selling, transferring or ceding the Agodi Government Fish Farm to any private developer.
Olanrewaju said the allegation was unfounded and accused those promoting it of attempting to generate political attention rather than engage in constructive public discussion.
He stated:
“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 government also dismissed the suggestion that the facility was being earmarked for incorporation into the nearby private estate development. Daily Post Nigeria
APC Accuses Makinde Administration of Planning to Cede Fish Farm
The Oyo State APC had earlier raised concerns over what it described as a plan by the Makinde administration to expand Baywood Estate into the land occupied by the government fish farm.
In a statement issued on Friday, the party’s Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, alleged that the government intended to make the facility available to the private housing development.
The opposition party claimed that the proposed development would involve taking over a public agricultural facility that has served educational, commercial and training purposes for several decades.
The APC also criticised what it described as the government’s approach to managing public infrastructure and government-owned properties.
It argued that the alleged move would undermine the state’s agricultural and environmental interests.
However, the party’s claims remain allegations and have been rejected by the state government. No independent evidence establishing a proposed transfer of the fish farm has been presented in the reports reviewed by Weng Global. Oyoinsight +1
What Is the Agodi Government Fish Farm?
The Agodi Government Fish Farm is a state-owned agricultural facility situated in the Agodi area of Ibadan, Oyo State.
According to the description provided in the APC’s statement, the facility has operated for approximately 40 years and contains offices, laboratories, demonstration farms, fish ponds and training centres.
The party also said the facility accommodates the Ogunpa Lake, where different varieties of local and exotic fish species are bred for educational and commercial purposes.
Its activities are reportedly relevant to agricultural staff, students, prospective fish farmers and established practitioners seeking practical knowledge and training in fish production.
The facility’s significance extends beyond fish farming, particularly in relation to agricultural education, skills development and the promotion of commercial aquaculture.
Its future therefore raises questions about the protection of public agricultural infrastructure and the continued availability of government-owned facilities for training and production. Oyoinsight
Baywood Estate and Previous Controversies Over Agodi Land
The latest disagreement comes amid previous controversies surrounding the development of Baywood Estate and the use of land around Agodi Gardens.
In December 2023, the Oyo State Government defended its housing development plans in the area following concerns that Agodi Botanical Gardens could be affected.
The then Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Funmilayo, explained that the proposed housing estate was intended for a separate 46.3-hectare forest area behind the gardens.
He said Agodi Gardens, which occupies approximately 9.11 hectares, would remain protected and that the government intended to upgrade the facility.
The commissioner also argued that the housing development was partly intended to address security concerns associated with the forest.
The earlier clarification concerned the botanical gardens and surrounding forest, rather than the specific allegation involving the government fish farm now raised by the APC.
The distinction is important because the current disagreement concerns whether the fish farm itself is being considered for transfer to a private developer. Radio Nigeria Ibadan Zonal Station +1
Public Assets, Agriculture and Accountability
The disagreement has broader implications for the management of public assets and agricultural infrastructure in Oyo State.
Government-owned agricultural facilities can contribute to food production, technical training, research and employment opportunities. Their management is therefore an important issue for farmers, students, agricultural entrepreneurs and residents.
If public agricultural facilities are to be repurposed or transferred, transparency and clear communication are essential to maintaining public confidence.
The APC’s allegations have placed the Agodi Government Fish Farm under renewed public attention, while the government’s denial provides its position on the matter.
However, the available reports do not establish that a sale or transfer has been approved or that a formal transaction involving the fish farm is underway.
The controversy also highlights the importance of distinguishing between legitimate government development projects and allegations of the disposal of public property.
What Happens Next?
The immediate issue is whether the opposition party will provide further evidence to support its allegation and whether the state government will release additional details about the ownership, status and future plans for the Agodi Government Fish Farm.
For now, the Oyo State Government has maintained that there is no plan to sell, cede or transfer the facility to a private developer.
The APC, meanwhile, has called on the governor to abandon what it described as a proposed transfer and protect government-owned properties.
Further clarification from the relevant government authorities could help address public concerns and establish whether any development plans affect the fish farm.
Weng Global will continue to follow developments surrounding the dispute and any official clarification concerning the future of the facility.
Weng Global – Stories beyond borders
Sources
- Daily Post Nigeria – APC, Makinde Trade Words Over Alleged Plans to Sell Agodi Fish Farm.
- Oyo Insight – Oyo APC Raises Alarm Over Makinde’s Alleged Plan to Sell Agodi Government Fish Farm.
- Radio Nigeria – Agodi Botanical Gardens Will Remain Intact, Oyo Government Says.
- Nigerian Tribune – Oyo Government Denies Conversion of Agodi Garden into Housing Estate.
