NEWS
ABIA ADVANCES AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION AS DR. CLIFF AGBAEZE HOSTS PRESCO/SIAT NIGERIA FOR MAJOR OIL PALM INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
The Abia State Government has taken a decisive step toward transforming its agricultural landscape with a high-level partnership engagement involving two of Nigeria’s foremost agribusiness giants: Presco Nigeria Plc and SIAT Nigeria Ltd.
The strategic meeting, held on Tuesday, 25th November 2025, inside the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Agriculture, Umuahia, was presided over by the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, FCIB, signaling the state’s renewed vision for large-scale agricultural development.
The session brought together key stakeholders from both government and the private sector, with discussions centered on accelerating Abia’s oil palm industrialization drive, a priority area under the administration of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, OFR.
Dr. Agbaeze underscored the state’s unwavering commitment to agricultural renewal, stressing that oil palm development remains a strategic economic pillar capable of enhancing food security, stimulating industrial growth, generating massive employment, and expanding the state’s revenue base.
Presco/SIAT Nigeria, represented by Mr. Wosanma Augustine, unveiled an ambitious proposal to embark on a large-scale oil palm development initiative across Abia State. The investors expressed readiness to cultivate 10,000 hectares of farmland spanning 52 communities in Ulonna North, Ulonna South, Abam (Arochukwu), Ohafia, and Bende LGAs.
To commence the process, a technical team will carry out a three-day intensive field assessment to identify suitable plantation zones, differentiate greenfield and brownfield areas, and collect soil samples for laboratory testing. A full technical report will subsequently be submitted to guide the next phase of consultations and implementation.
Adding depth to the engagement, the Honourable Commissioner for Lands, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, provided insights into the cultural, administrative, and legal sensitivities surrounding large-scale land acquisition in Nigeria. He highlighted that land remains an ancestral asset in local communities and that any acquisition must satisfy overriding public interest as stipulated in the Land Use Act. While the government is prepared to coordinate land identification, sensitization, surveying, enumeration, and valuation, he maintained that investors must fund the acquisition process to ensure efficiency and transparency.
Both the state government and the Presco/SIAT delegation reached a consensus that the project must be guided by robust community engagement, environmental protection, and clearly defined social responsibility frameworks. The Ministries of Agriculture and Lands, alongside the Public Private Partnership Office, pledged full administrative and technical backing to support the success of the initial assessment phase.
Key Action Points from the Engagement include:
1. Presco/SIAT Nigeria Ltd commences field assessments and soil sampling across targeted communities.
2. The Ministry of Lands releases preliminary land-use data and technical guidance.
3. The Ministry of Agriculture coordinates field mobilisation and access.
4. The Public Private Partnership Office begins reviewing the partnership framework for formalization.
5. A second engagement phase covering comprehensive stakeholder consultations, technical review, and project implementation planning—will be initiated after the submission of the field assessment report.
The Abia State Government reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with reputable investors to unlock the state’s vast agricultural potential and advance inclusive, sustainable economic development.
Present at the meeting were key officials of the Abia State Government, among them Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, Honourable Commissioner for Lands; Pastor Ekpendu Gabriel, Director in charge of Public Private Partnership (PPP/IP); Dr. Onu Nwokedi, Director of Epidemiology, Ministry of Agriculture; Dr. Ojo Umah Ojo, Director for Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture; Dr. Victus Nadozie Nwoko, Head of Veterinary Services; Surv. Iyke Nwankwo, Acting Surveyor-General, Ministry of Lands; Surv. Uche of the Ministry of Lands, and Mr. Kelechi Ikpa, Land Officer in the Ministry of Lands.
Also in attendance was the delegation from Presco Nigeria Plc and SIAT Nigeria Ltd, comprising Mr. Kadir Osman, Mr. Joe Tahi, Mr. Wosanma Augustine, Mr. Simeon Afeighe Ojo, Mr. Opeyemi Israel Adaramoye, Mr. Timothy Ojamineayr, Mr. Miodapir Toye Leggade, and Mr.
Harrison Onyenaturuchi Daniel.