Governor Otu of Cross River State has approved N355.31 million for the construction of an administrative and laboratory complex, including staff accommodation, for the Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) outstation at Creek Town in Odukpani Local Government Area.
The approval was granted at the State Executive Council meeting following a memorandum presented by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Johnson Ebokpo.
The state government said the project is designed to strengthen oil palm research, expand access to modern agricultural technologies and provide technical support to farmers and investors across Cross River and the wider South-South region.
The proposed facility would support research into improved and climate-resilient oil palm varieties, disease management, specialised nurseries, crop protection and modern agronomic practices.
It would also facilitate the production and distribution of certified oil palm seedlings while providing technical assistance to farmers and commercial investors.
According to the government, the broader objective is to increase oil palm production, improve productivity and strengthen the agricultural value chain.
Otu: Agriculture Must Go Beyond Subsistence
Governor Otu said the investment formed part of his administration’s strategy to transform agriculture from predominantly subsistence activity into a technology-driven sector capable of creating employment, generating wealth and improving food security.
“Cross River cannot fully realise its agricultural potential without investing in the science, technology and infrastructure that drive modern agriculture, ” he said.
The governor said the facility would also provide a platform for collaboration among research institutions, universities, development partners and private agribusinesses.
Such partnerships, he added, would focus on areas including mechanisation, climate-smart agriculture and disease-control solutions adapted to local farming conditions.
The State Executive Council noted that Cross River’s favourable agro-ecological conditions, extensive land resources and potential for producing high-yield hybrid seedlings and establishing commercial plantations give the state a strong advantage in oil palm production.
The government envisages the Creek Town–Odukpani–Calabar corridor becoming a strategic centre for agricultural research and innovation, with benefits extending beyond Cross River to other parts of the South-South.
The project is expected to strengthen the link between scientific research and practical farming by making improved technologies, planting materials and technical expertise more accessible to producers.
The governor also said the investment would create opportunities for young people through agricultural extension services, vocational training and agripreneurship.
“Our objective is not simply to construct another government facility. We are building an institution that will generate knowledge, support farmers, attract investors and create opportunities for our young people, ” he said.
The project, the government said, is expected to contribute to a more productive and commercially viable oil palm industry while positioning Cross River to take greater advantage of its agricultural resources.
