The Abia State Government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with S-ATM Nigeria Limited, a private investor to manage the State palm estate in Ohambele in Ukwa East Local Government Area of the state.
The development is an indication of the resolve of the Okezie Ikpeazu-led Government in Abia State, to expand the wealth of Abia and support the governor’s drive to restore the state as the number one palm producer in the country.
Uzor Azubuike, the State’s commissioner for Agriculture, who signed on behalf of the State Government, assured the investors that the state government would keep their part of the agreement as Governor Ikpeazu, was in a hurry to return the state to the years of palm plantations dotting the landscape of the state.
According to Azubuike, “with this agreement S-ATM Nigeria Limited must build an oil mill inside the palm estate there in Ohambele. Also the estate is going to employ over 5,000 Abians, with greater percentage of the employment from the Ohambele community”.
Donald Ogunleye, managing director, S-ATM Nigeria Limited, assured that his firm, would fulfil the terms of the agreement, including investing the needed funds to realise the goals of the state palm plantation and employ Abians.
According to him, “more than 40 percent of the company’s employees will be Abia indigenes and we will also utilise the services of the members of the host community, thereby reducing the rate of unemployment in the state”.
The investor and his bankers, UBA Plc, expressed appreciation to the State government for providing the enabling environment for new investors to do business in the state without excessive bureaucratic bottlenecks.
On his part, the Secretary to the State Government, Eme Okoro, who represented Governor Okezie Ikpeazu at the occasion, commended the Commissioner of Agriculture, Azubuike “for leaving no stone unturned in bringing to materialization one of the pillars of Governor Ikpeazu’s administration in the area of revitalisation of agriculture to create wealth for the State”.
