Omon-Julius Onabu in Asaba
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has carried out the sid-turning ceremony for the development of a $70 million built-in animal feed manufacturing facility in Ogwashi-Uku, Aniocha South Local Government Area of Delta State, being constructed by Olam Agri, a subsidiary of Africa Grains and Mills Limited.
The facility, which is designed to provide a mean 450,000 metric tonnes of poultry feed yearly and almost 100,000 tonnes of aquafeed, will serve farmers throughout the South-South and South-East areas, whereas addressing the challenges of excessive feed prices and insufficient provide.
Speaking on the ceremony, Oborevwori mentioned that the funding is a significant enhance to the state’s industrialisation and agricultural growth drive, including that the funding was a direct final result of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit held in August 2026 and one other vital milestone in the implementation of his administration’s M.O.R.E Agenda.
He famous the absence of a significant animal feed manufacturing facility in the area had remained a significant constraint to livestock and poultry manufacturing, forcing farmers to depend upon provides from distant places, significantly the South-West and Middle Belt.
Animal feed accounts for between 60 and 80 per cent of livestock and poultry manufacturing prices, making its affordability important to farmers’ survival and the supply of animal protein.
He expressed confidence that the brand new facility would cut back transportation prices, enhance entry to feed and in the end make rooster, eggs and fish extra inexpensive, he noticed.
The governor added that the venture would offer a dependable market for native farmers producing maize, soyabean and different agricultural uncooked supplies, thereby strengthening the agricultural worth chain and bettering meals safety.
Oborevwori disclosed the state authorities offered roughly 99.99 acres of land for the funding with out charging the corporate for the allocation and likewise paid the required compensation to facilitate the land acquisition and take-off.
The governor assured the corporate of presidency help and warned people towards demanding unlawful funds or interfering with the venture.
He urged conventional rulers, group leaders and youths to guard the funding and be certain that development proceeded with out disruption.
“I have repeatedly told the investors not to give money to anybody in the name of facilitating their project. We do not encourage such practices, and nobody should demand illegal payments from investors,” he warned.
Oborevwori attributed the corporate’s alternative of Ogwashi-Uku partly to safety, enhancements in highway infrastructure and accessibility ensuing from his administration’s investments in roads and bridges.
He careworn that the federal government was dedicated to creating an investment-friendly atmosphere that might appeal to industries, generate employment and diversify the state’s economic system.
He additionally disclosed that the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku had indicated the supply of about 8,000 hectares of land for funding, assuring potential traders that authorities would collaborate with the standard establishment to facilitate entry to acceptable land.
Earlier, President and Global Head of Integrated Feed and Protein at Olam Agri, Sharad Gupta, counseled Oborevwori for his private dedication to the venture, saying the corporate’s determination to ascertain the power in Delta was knowledgeable by the big agricultural potential of the South-South and South-East.
Gupta mentioned the corporate, which had operated in Nigeria for a few decade, had established robust relationships with farmers by way of investments in soya bean processing, seed multiplication and improved agricultural practices.
He disclosed that related productiveness programmes could be prolonged to Delta State, significantly in maize and soya bean cultivation.
He recognized poultry and aquaculture as sectors with monumental progress potential, noting that elevated home manufacturing of rooster, eggs and fish would assist deal with Nigeria’s meals safety challenges and scale back dependence on imported frozen fish.
Gupta assured the host communities of sustained engagement, including that the corporate would help initiatives geared toward bettering livelihoods, growing agricultural abilities and creating alternatives for younger individuals and girls.
Giving an summary of the funding, Senior Vice President and Business Head, Integrated Feed and Protein, Nigeria, Amit Agarwal, mentioned Olam Agri at the moment operated two main amenities in Kaduna and Kwara, with a mixed annual capability of 660,000 tonnes of poultry feed, 150,000 tonnes of aquafeed and 450 million day-old chicks for the broiler sector.
He defined that the Ogwashi-Uku facility would add 450,000 tonnes of poultry feed and almost 100,000 tonnes of aquafeed to the corporate’s manufacturing capability, making it one of many largest built-in feed manufacturing amenities in the nation.
Agarwal mentioned the corporate additionally deliberate to ascertain an Aquaculture Centre of Excellence in Delta, with the target of growing the Asaba-Warri axis into a significant catfish manufacturing hub for the South-South and South-East.
He added that Olam Agri would work with the state authorities to strengthen native manufacturing of maize, soybean, cassava and different uncooked supplies required to maintain the power, making a reliable market for farmers and stimulating agricultural actions.
He expressed optimism that the venture could be prepared for inauguration in a few yr, when manufacturing would begin.
In his remarks, the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, HRM, Dr Ifeanyichukwu Okonjo, mentioned the dominion was positioning itself as a significant funding vacation spot, disclosing that about 15 multinational and indigenous corporations had expressed curiosity in establishing companies in the realm.
He assured the governor that the standard establishment would proceed to accomplice with the state authorities and real traders to translate the dominion’s funding potential into employment, financial progress and improved livelihoods.
Earlier, the Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Council, Hon. Jude Chukwunwike, described the funding as a major growth initiative in the native authorities and Delta State ar massive.
