The Oyo State Government has clarified its position on the botched maize export arrangement with the Government of Botswana, stating that the decision to pull back was driven by data analysis and the need to protect Oyo State farmers. The clarification is contained in a statement issued in Ibadan on Friday by the governor's Special Adviser on Media, Dr Sulaimon Olanrewaju. It stated that the Gov. Seyi Makinde-led administration had, in its first term, explored a bilateral deal with Botswana to guarantee off-take and foreign exchange earnings for local farmers. However, comprehensive studies conducted by the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) revealed that the economics of large-scale maize export were not viable. The statement stressed that the decision was not a withdrawal from international agricultural engagement, but a strategic pivot to more profitable value.
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