Abia Begins Recovery of Abandoned Farm Settlements, Targets Commercial Agriculture
Amy Adindu
The Abia State Government has commenced the process of reclaiming abandoned and underutilised farm settlements across the state as part of a broader push to transform agriculture into a commercially driven, value-chain-focused sector.
Governor Alex Otti, OFR, disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving the Executive Management Committee of the Anambra–Imo River Basin Development Authority, led by its Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Anosike, during a working visit in Umuahia.
Describing agriculture as the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and the largest employer of labour, Governor Otti said his administration is determined to move Abia away from subsistence farming toward mechanised, commercially viable agriculture.
“Some of these farm settlements were established by our forefathers, the Michael Okparas of this world, but were later abandoned or underutilised. We have started the process of taking them back, setting them up, and getting them to work,” the governor said.
He noted that the state already possesses sufficient data to drive the agricultural revival and stressed the importance of building full value chains rather than exporting raw produce.
“Instead of selling cocoa beans, we want to be able to sell chocolate,” Otti added.
The governor assured the visiting delegation of Abia’s readiness to collaborate with the Anambra–Imo River Basin Development Authority to achieve food sufficiency and stimulate economic growth.
According to him, land availability, improved power infrastructure, and inter-agency collaboration place the state in a strong position to deliver results quickly.
“We will form a team, identify the low-hanging fruits, hit the ground running, and then move to more complex areas. There is no time to waste,” he said.
Governor Otti directed the Commissioners for Agriculture, Lands, and Power & Public Utilities, alongside other relevant MDAs, to work closely with the River Basin Authority to ensure the success of the partnership. He also reiterated his administration’s ongoing investment in power infrastructure, describing energy as central to agricultural and industrial productivity.
Earlier, Senator Emmanuel Anosike said the visit was part of a broader engagement tour following the inauguration of the new board by President Bola Tinubu. He explained that the Anambra–Imo River Basin Development Authority covers the five states of the South-East and is committed to revitalising agricultural assets across the region.
“We have strong irrigation projects in Abia. There was a time we had Anambra–Imo rice, chicken, eggs, and more. We believe those days can return,” Anosike said.
He added that beyond agriculture, the authority is also exploring collaborations in solar energy and related infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by top government officials, including the Acting Secretary to the State Government, the Chief of Staff to the Governor, commissioners, and heads of strategic development agencies.
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