Abia State Ministry of Agriculture has cancelled and revoked with immediate effect the contract agreements the past administration entered with some Farm Estate companies in the State with a view that such agreements did not capture the interests of the State government and had been compromised.
In a release signed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Cliff Agbaeze, and made available to newsmen reads in part that after a careful review of the existing contracts on the farm estates across the zones in the State viz Oil palm, Cocoa, Cashew and Rubber, it is obvious that those contracts were entered into under terms and conditions that are detrimental to the State and her interests.
Dr. Agbaeze observed with displeasure that the said terms and conditions of the contracts had been substantially and serially breached by the so-called investors stressing that it would be irresponsible of the present administration under the leadership of Governor Alex Chioma Otti, to condone such unfavourable breaches capable of subjecting the State Government to compromised conditions.
The Agriculture Commissioner, reaffirmed that this administration has a sacred duty to preserve the state’s resources for the greater good of all Abians in its quest to restore Abia State to its glorious state.
Dr. Agbaeze, therefore, issued the following directives, that all those contracts with the existing investors are hereby terminated and revoked adding
that a fresh open bidding process will be initiated shortly to bring in more credible investors into those Farm Estates under terms and conditions that are not only transparent but also best protect the interests of the State Government and Abians such that aligns with international best practices.
He further warned that all the affected investors should discontinue every activity in all the relevant Farms forthwith for the avoidance of any doubts.
Meanwhile, the affected Companies and Estates were, Providence Resources Ltd-Abia Cocoa Farm Estate,Agbozu, Manglore Farms Ltd.- Abia Cashew Estate , Umunneochi, South Estate Farm and Agro Investment processing Company – Ukwa-Nkporo Oilpalm Estate, and Great Nobles Integrated Ltd- Ameke and Ndi Oji Abam Rubber Plantation.
According to the State Commissioner for Agriculture, these directives take effect from 1st January, 2025.
