Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has emphasized the urgent need for timely execution of the proposed multi-million dollar Dairy Farm in the State, urging promoters of the project to establish clear timelines and fast-track implementation.
The Governor made the call on Sunday, while receiving a progress report from a delegation of Blue Ribbon Company, led by its Chief Executive Officer, Sir Idris Wabara.
Governor Otti, who had granted approval in principle for the project last year, expressed concern over the pace of progress, noting that a year after the initial agreement, execution was still pending.
“We know that it is something that would take a little bit of time, maybe we were not expecting that it will take one year to still be on the drawing table.
“It is heartwarming that you are intensively on it. Maybe, we need to have a smaller section, where you will table exactly what you need so that we can also say what we can do.
“But, most importantly, we need to also establish timelines of delivery”,he stated.
He urged the Blue Ribbon team to secure short-term funding from local financial institutions while continuing engagements with international financiers such as the African Development Bank (AfDB), Afreximbank, and Japanese investors.
According to the Governor, such move would kick-start the project and reduce overall costs by avoiding further delays.
“If there is anything we can help you with, you can take that for granted. My team and I would do everything possible to support you so that the project can take off”, Governor Otti assured.
In his remarks earlier, Sir Idris Wabara disclosed that the company has made considerable strides, including consultations with AfDB and Afreximbank, adding that preliminary approvals are already in the pipeline.
He noted that Israeli dairy and agricultural experts had been brought in to conduct feasibility studies and develop the master plan, which would be finalized in Abia before moving to Lagos for further processing with PwC.
Sir Wabara added that the groundbreaking ceremony is slated for later this year and emphasized that, with Governor Otti’s support, the project would place Abia at the forefront of livestock and dairy investment in the country.
