The Oyo State Government has raised the alarm over growing cases of land misuse across its 33 Local Government Areas, urging residents to intensify vigilance as land-related investments expand across the state.

This appeal came on Thursday as the state formally unveiled the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) at the Executive Council Chamber, Ibadan.

The initiative, backed by the World Bank through the State Action on Business Enabling Reforms (SABER), is designed to regulate large-scale agricultural investments and curb widespread abuses associated with land acquisition.

Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal said the warning became necessary following repeated reports that individuals and organisations often secure land from government under specific categories but divert them for unauthorised purposes, a trend he described as a threat to sustainable development.

According to a statement issued by Gov. Seyi Makinde’s Special Adviser on Media, Sulaimon Olarenwaju, such diversions undermine long-term planning and destabilise host communities.

He added that the state has observed “a habit of applying for lands under specific purposes but diverting the same for unintended or unauthorised activities.”

At the event, Lawal stressed that FRILIA is intended to empower communities—not sideline them.

“This initiative is not merely a bureaucratic measure. It is a commitment, a pledge to every individual and community within the state,” he said. “It signifies the unwavering dedication to building a future underpinned by principles of responsibility, inclusiveness, transparency, and sustainability.”

Speaking on the state’s agricultural potential, the deputy governor noted that Oyo’s vast arable land makes it an attractive destination for investors but insisted that the government will insist on ethical land practices.

“So, we are blessed abundantly with regard to agri-development… But then, the state government must provide an enabling environment and that is why we are talking of responsibility,” he added.

Lawal further disclosed that the FRILIA pilot project would begin in Ilero, urging traditional leaders and local governments to work closely with investors to safeguard community interests.

He emphasised that communities must insist on fair land negotiation processes. “Land investment should not benefit a select few while eliminating the majority,” he said, adding that vulnerable groups must have a say in land-related decisions.

Chairman of the FRILIA Technical Committee and Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Williams Akin-Fumilayo, explained that the framework is part of a three-year World Bank–supported reform aimed at strengthening the state’s land governance.

It includes guidelines for risk assessment, environmental protection, compensation, community engagement and grievance resolution.

Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Musibau Babatunde, added that the broader SABER initiative seeks to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and encourage investment through more predictable and transparent processes.

Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary representing the Commissioner for Agriculture, Abosede Owoeye, said the framework would support post-pandemic agricultural recovery, boost rural development and open opportunities for youth participation in agribusiness.

The renewed emphasis on responsible land use follows a clampdown in November targeting private estate developers operating outside approved guidelines. During the enforcement exercise, Commissioner Akin-Fumilayo warned that developers clearing land without approvals were contributing to disorderly expansion across the state.

While promising transparency in land acquisition for agricultural investors, the deputy governor emphasised that communities themselves must remain alert and engage actively with the process.

“This is a project that must be owned by our local population,” he said, urging residents to monitor developments within their communities and report suspicious land activities promptly.