The Oyo State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has alleged that Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration is planning to cede the Agodi Government Fish Farm in Ibadan to Baywood Estate, a private housing development.
The allegation has triggered a fresh dispute between the opposition party and the Oyo State Government, which has categorically denied any plan to sell, transfer or hand over the facility to a private developer.
In a statement issued on Friday by its Publicity Secretary, Olawale Sadare, the APC claimed that the proposed transfer was part of an alleged plan to expand private housing projects around the Agodi Government Secretariat.
The party alleged that the fish farm could be levelled and its land incorporated into Baywood Estate following the development of the adjoining area.
“We have uncovered fresh plans by Gov. Makinde and his cronies to expand the private Housing Estate projects around Agodi Government Secretariat which has birthed Baywood Estate,” the party said.
The APC further alleged that the development would follow the destruction of a green area around Agodi, which it described as an important environmental conservation zone.
According to the opposition party, the Agodi Government Fish Farm is a major public agricultural facility that has served the state for decades.
It described the facility as a world-class fish farming and training centre comprising offices, laboratories, demonstration farms, ponds and training facilities for government workers, students, prospective fish farmers and practitioners.
The APC also said the facility houses Ogunpa Lake, where indigenous and exotic fish species are bred for educational and commercial purposes.
The party accused the Makinde administration of failing to adequately protect government-owned assets, alleging that several public facilities had suffered neglect or been affected by development projects since 2019.
It cited Trans Amusement Park, Agodi Gardens, the Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), Oyo State Library Board and the Water Corporation of Oyo State as examples.
The APC also expressed concern about the future of other public facilities in the Agodi axis, including the Government Secretariat, Government House and Cultural Centre complex.
It urged Makinde to suspend what it described as the planned transfer of the fish farm and called on Oyo State elders and other stakeholders to intervene.
The party also demanded accountability over government lands and properties it alleged had been sold, transferred or illegally appropriated.
However, the Oyo State Government has rejected the allegation, describing it as unsupported by facts or official records.
Governor Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju, said there was no plan to sell, cede or otherwise transfer the Agodi Government Fish Farm to any private developer.
Olanrewaju challenged the APC to produce any document, directive, policy decision, Executive Council resolution or other official record supporting its allegation.
He said the fish farm remained a valuable public asset and that any decision concerning its operation, management or future development would be guided by public interest and the law.
