Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has approved ₦355.31 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, 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 project is expected to strengthen oil palm research, improve access to agricultural technologies and provide technical support to farmers and investors across Cross River State and the wider South-South region.
According to the state government, the complex will provide facilities for research into improved and climate-resilient oil palm varieties, disease management, specialised nurseries, crop protection and modern agronomic practices.
It will also support the production and distribution of certified seedlings and provide technical assistance to farmers and commercial investors, with the broader objective of expanding oil palm production and strengthening the state’s agricultural value chain.
Otu said the investment was part of his administration’s efforts to move agriculture beyond subsistence production and develop it into a technology-driven sector capable of creating jobs, 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.”
The governor said the facility would also provide a platform for collaboration between research institutions, universities, development partners and private agribusinesses on mechanisation, climate-smart agriculture and disease-control solutions suited to local conditions.
The State Executive Council noted that Cross River’s favourable agro-ecological conditions, extensive land resources and potential for high-yield hybrid seedlings and commercial plantations give the state a comparative advantage in oil palm production.
The Creek Town-Odukpani-Calabar corridor is consequently expected to serve as a strategic research and innovation hub, supporting agricultural development across Cross River and the South-South.
The governor also said the project would incorporate opportunities for young people through agricultural extension, 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.”
Erizia Rubyjeana
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