The Ogun State Government has revealed that a facility that has the capacity to process an additional 1.3 million birds annually and significantly reduce poultry importation has been acquired following the construction of a 5,000-birds-per-day poultry processing facility at Ajegunle Farm Settlement, Odeda Local Government Area, under the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP).

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, disclosed this during a visit to Ajegunle Farm Settlement, Eweje Farm Institute and Odo Fufu in Odeda and Yewa South Local Government Areas, as part of the first phase of his facility tour of ongoing and completed agricultural projects across the State.

Owotomo said the State government remain committed to supporting farmers and scaling up food production, noting that Ajegunle Farm Settlement designated as a poultry hub, currently has about 400 resident farmers, while newly provided complementary facilities including blast freezers, cold rooms, waste processing facilities, a warehouse with fitted offices and 20,000-capacity poultry pens have continued to attract private investors.

According to him, a private investor has just completed the construction of a 13,000-capacity poultry pen at the settlement, further highlighting its growing economic significance.

The Commissioner revealed that the State through OGSTEP had completed 28 agricultural projects across the State in the last two years, adding that other intervention programmes such as Value Chain Development Programme (VCDP), OG-CARES and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones (SAPZ) had also contributed significantly to revitalising the agricultural sector.

 "These projects are aimed at increasing food productivity, improving farmers’ livelihoods, and reducing post-harvest losses in Nigeria, which are currently estimated at N3.5 trillion annually," he said.

Owotomo explained that Nigeria’s per capita chicken consumption stands between 1.7kg and 2kg, compared to 13kg in Ghana, 36kg in South Africa, and 46kg in Brazil, stressing that despite importing about 70 per cent of its poultry needs, Nigeria still lags significantly in consumption.

At Eweje Farm Institute, where 10 poultry pens capable of producing 10,000 birds each and five four-bedroom residential buildings have been constructed, the commissioner assured that the State’s sustained investment in agricultural infrastructure would further strengthen Ogun State’s position as Nigeria’s leading poultry hub.

He said that, Odo Fufu in Ilaro where a cassava processing facility has been constructed to serve numerous farmers, the project would enhance value addition and improve farmers’ incomes.

  "On sustainability, we are encouraging farmers to take ownership of these facilities. There will be strong monitoring and evaluation by the Ministry, alongside Public-Private Partnerships, to ensure long-term viability,” he said.

In their separate remarks, Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Angel Adelaja and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Kehinde Jokotoye, affirmed that the projects would significantly boost productivity and strengthen the State’s economy.

Also speaking, the Principal of Odeda Training Institute, Mr. Ademola Benco, and Chairman of Ajegunle Farm Settlement, Mr. Rotimi Sogunle, described the projects as unprecedented and first of their kind, noting that full utilisation would further boost agricultural production in Ogun State and Nigeria at large.

Commissioner was accompanied on the tour by the Chairman, House Committee on Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Waliu Owode, and Directors from the Ministry.