NEWS
Abia Govt Begins Stakeholder Consultations on Proposed 20,000-Hectare Oil Palm Project in Abia North
The Abia State Government has officially commenced formal stakeholder engagements and consultations on a proposed 20,000-hectare oil palm development project by Presco Plc across selected communities in the Abia North Senatorial Zone, in what is being described as a major step toward expanding the state’s agricultural and industrial economy.
The initiative, spearheaded through the Abia State Ministry of Lands, forms part of Governor Alex Otti’s broader economic transformation agenda aimed at driving agro-industrial growth, creating employment opportunities, strengthening rural infrastructure, and promoting sustainable development across Abia State.
This was made known in a press release jointly signed by the Public Relations Officers of the Ministry, Ifeyinwa Kanu and Okezie Uwakwe.
At a high-level engagement meeting attended by representatives of Presco Plc, officials of the Ministries of Lands and Agriculture, the Public-Private Partnership Office, and Mayors from local government areas in Abia North, extensive discussions were held on the proposed project, community engagement processes, and land administration procedures expected to guide implementation.
During the meeting, Presco Plc, a certified oil palm company operating in Nigeria since 1991, unveiled its proposal for phased plantation and processing developments across identified clusters in Bende, Ohafia, Arochukwu, and Isuikwuato Local Government Areas.
According to the company, the proposed investment is projected to generate about 5,000 direct and indirect jobs while attracting additional investments in refining, agro-processing, transportation logistics, and other allied sectors capable of stimulating economic activities within host communities.
Speaking during the engagement, the Commissioner for Lands, Hon. Chaka Chukwumerije, reaffirmed the commitment of Governor Alex Otti’s administration to opening up strategic development opportunities across the three senatorial zones of the state through responsible, transparent, and inclusive investments.
He stressed that the proposed oil palm project would strictly comply with all applicable laws, environmental regulations, and international sustainability standards guiding large-scale agricultural investments.
The Commissioner further outlined critical implementation principles expected to guide the project, including comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessments, Free Prior and Informed Consent engagements with affected communities, participatory land surveys and boundary verification exercises, transparent compensation structures, community benefit frameworks, and legal safeguards designed to protect the interests of host communities.
The meeting also reaffirmed the Abia State Government’s commitment to transparency, environmental sustainability, and inclusive development through continuous consultations and engagements with all affected stakeholders.
During the discussions, concerns raised by community representatives over unresolved land acquisition experiences from previous projects were formally acknowledged by government officials and stakeholders.
In response, officials emphasized the importance of enforceable agreements, clearly defined compensation mechanisms, legal protections, and land-reversion provisions in cases where proposed projects fail to materialize within agreed timelines.
Stakeholders also explored several partnership models, including public-private partnerships, community participation arrangements, and long-term benefit-sharing structures aimed at ensuring that host communities derive sustainable economic value from the proposed investment.
As part of immediate next steps, local government authorities and community leaders are expected to begin preliminary town hall meetings and community mobilization consultations ahead of technical field assessments and implementation processes.
The engagement meeting attracted the participation of the Mayors of Bende, Isuikwuato, Arochukwu, and Ohafia Local Government Areas, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, representatives of the Ministries of Agriculture and Lands, officials of the Public-Private Partnership Office, and representatives of Presco Plc.
Former Mayor of Ohafia Local Government Area, Chief David Ogba, popularly known as Bourdex, alongside other stakeholders, also attended the consultation meeting.
The engagement concluded with a collective resolve by government officials, community leaders, and stakeholders to intensify consultations with host communities and local government authorities toward ensuring the smooth and successful implementation of the proposed oil palm development project in Abia North.