Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori has broken ground on a $70 million integrated animal feed plant that Olam Agri is building at Ogwashi-Uku in Aniocha South Local Government Area.

The facility is planned to produce 450,000 metric tonnes of poultry feed and almost 100,000 tonnes of aquafeed each year. It is intended to supply farmers in the South-South and South-East and to tackle high feed costs and insufficient supply.

At the ceremony, Oborevwori called the investment a big lift for Delta’s push to industrialise and develop agriculture. He said it came directly out of the Delta State Economic and Investment Summit held in August 2026 and marked another important step in carrying out his administration’s MORE Agenda.

He observed that the region had lacked a major animal feed manufacturing plant, a gap that constrained livestock and poultry production and left farmers relying on supplies brought from far away, especially the South-West and Middle Belt.

Feed represents 60 to 80 per cent of the cost of producing livestock and poultry, he said, so affordability is vital to farmers’ survival and to the supply of animal protein. He expressed confidence that the new plant would lower transport costs, widen access to feed and eventually make chicken, eggs and fish more affordable.

He also said the plant would give local growers of maize, soyabean and other farm raw materials a dependable market, which would bolster the agricultural value chain and food security.

Land, support and warning

Oborevwori said the state government provided approximately 99.99 acres of land for the investment without charging Olam Agri for the allocation. It also paid the necessary compensation to facilitate the land acquisition and take-off, he said.

He promised the company government support and cautioned individuals against demanding illegal payments or interfering with the project. The governor urged traditional rulers, community leaders and youths to safeguard the investment and ensure construction went ahead without disruption.

“I have repeatedly told the investors not to give money to anybody in the name of facilitating their project. We do not encourage such practices, and nobody should demand illegal payments from investors,” he warned.

According to the governor, security, better roads and improved access—all linked to his administration’s spending on roads and bridges—played a part in Olam Agri’s decision to site the project in Ogwashi-Uku. He stressed that his government was determined to create an investment-friendly environment that would draw industries, create jobs and diversify Delta’s economy.

Also Read : Federal High Court E-Affidavit Portal: How Nigerians Can Obtain and Verify Genuine Court Affidavits Online

Related Stories

Oborevwori also said the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku had indicated that about 8,000 hectares were available for investment. He assured prospective investors that the government would work with the traditional institution to make suitable land accessible.

Olam Agri outlines capacity and plans

Sharad Gupta, President and Global Head of Integrated Feed and Protein at Olam Agri, praised Oborevwori for his personal commitment to the project. He said Olam Agri chose Delta because of the large agricultural potential of the South-South and South-East.

Gupta said Olam Agri had been in Nigeria for about 10 years and had built strong ties with farmers through soya bean processing, seed multiplication and better farming practices. He said similar productivity programmes would be extended to Delta, especially for maize and soya bean farming.

He described poultry and aquaculture as sectors with strong growth prospects. More chicken, eggs and fish produced locally, he said, would help Nigeria tackle food security challenges and rely less on imported frozen fish.

Gupta assured host communities of continued engagement and said the company would back initiatives to improve livelihoods, build agricultural skills and create opportunities for young people and women.

Amit Agarwal, Senior Vice President and Business Head, Integrated Feed and Protein, Nigeria, gave an overview of the investment. He said Olam Agri currently runs two major plants in Kaduna and Kwara, which together have annual capacity for 660,000 tonnes of poultry feed, 150,000 tonnes of aquafeed and 450 million day-old chicks for the broiler sector.

The Ogwashi-Uku plant, he explained, would add 450,000 tonnes of poultry feed and almost 100,000 tonnes of aquafeed to Olam Agri’s production capacity, ranking it among the country’s largest integrated feed manufacturing facilities.

Agarwal said Olam Agri also planned an Aquaculture Centre of Excellence in Delta. The aim is to turn the Asaba-Warri axis into a major catfish production hub for the South-South and South-East.

He added that Olam Agri would work with the state government to boost local output of maize, soybean, cassava and other raw materials needed to keep the facility running, creating a dependable market for farmers and stimulating farm activity.

Agarwal expressed optimism that the project would be ready for inauguration in about a year, when production would start.

The Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, HRM Dr Ifeanyichukwu Okonjo, said the kingdom was presenting itself as a major investment destination and disclosed that about 15 multinational and indigenous companies had shown interest in setting up businesses there. He assured the governor that the traditional institution would keep working with the state government and genuine investors to turn the kingdom’s investment potential into jobs, economic growth and better livelihoods.

The Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Council, Hon. Jude Chukwunwike, called the investment a significant development for both the council area and Delta State.