The Ekiti State Government Steering Committee on the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) has inaugurated a Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) Committee, a move aimed at promoting inclusive land administration, strengthening dispute resolution, and improving agricultural output across the state.
Governor Biodun Oyebanji, who chairs the FRILIA Steering Committee, described the establishment of the GRM as a critical step toward ensuring peaceful and harmonious land use, particularly in areas earmarked for agricultural investment. The governor was represented at the inauguration ceremony in Ado-Ekiti by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Deputy Chairman of the Steering Committee, Ebenezer Boluwade.
According to him, the GRM Committee is designed to foster trust, transparency, and accountability in the land governance process by ensuring that complaints, disputes, and appeals related to agricultural investments are addressed promptly and fairly.
He noted that the initiative aligns with the state government’s broader objective of deepening the ease of doing business through the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms.
“The present administration is implementing the FRILIA project to reinforce a business-friendly environment in the state,” the governor said. He added that the new mechanism would operate alongside the Technical and Steering Committees to resolve land-related issues in line with FRILIA principles.
Governor Oyebanji charged members of the committee to remain impartial, transparent, and accessible to all stakeholders, including vulnerable groups, while adhering to both national and international human rights standards.
Chairman of the Technical Committee, Olusanmi Akintobi, said the GRM would create a reliable pathway for stakeholders—farmers, communities, and investors—to resolve disputes without undermining agricultural productivity.
“This GRM Toolkit provides Ekiti State with a robust, fair and sustainable system for managing conflicts by offering a clear and trusted channel for dispute resolution. It protects the rights of communities and investors alike, thereby encouraging agricultural investments and promoting a harmonious and productive agricultural sector,” he said.
Members of the newly inaugurated GRM Committee include representatives from the Ministry of Justice, Bureau of Land Services, Ekiti State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (EKDIPA), Ministry of Local Government, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
