By Dianabasi Effiong
The Cross River State Government has taken steps toward reviving some age-old agro-allied estates and industries with the opening of technical bids for the privatisation of Erei Farm Settlement Oil Palm Estates.
The estates comprise Ikun, Urugbam, and Egbor Oil Palm Estates in the Biase Local Government Area of the state.
The investors who indicated interest in acquiring the estates are El-Darl Farms Limited and Bella Van Baass Limited.
Speaking at the bid-opening event in Calabar, the Director-General of the State’s Council on Privatisation, Chief Bassey Okon, expressed the administration’s commitment to economic growth through strategic private-sector partnerships.
“We are here to open the technical bids for the oil palm estates. These estates, originally established in 1961 under the Eastern Nigerian Development Corporation, have long been due for revitalization,” Okon said.
According to him, years of neglect by past governments, lack of reinvestment, and community disputes have contributed to the estates’ decline.
He said the Gov. Bassey Otu administration would reverse this trend.
“Most of these estates have not been replanted in decades, despite agricultural best practices recommending periodic replanting for sustained productivity.
“The people-first agenda of this government ensures that every initiative prioritizes economic empowerment, job creation, and sustainable development,” he said.
The bidding process marks a crucial phase in the state’s privatisation efforts to allow technically qualified and financially capable firms to take over operations.
Cecilia Adie, representative of the Director General, Due Process and Intelligence at the Privatisation Council urged the evaluation team to ensure a transparent and credible selection process.
She said, “Keep sentiments aside and do your best to move our team forward. This is a major step in repositioning Cross River’s agricultural sector, and we must ensure due diligence at every stage.”
Also, Itafa Ogar, legal representative of Eldar Farms Ltd., said the government’s privatisation initiative was a bold step toward revitalising the state’s agricultural economy.
“Cross River State has vast agricultural potential, and this move is key to unlocking it. We at Eldar Farms are proud to be co-stakeholders in this process and are optimistic that it will create jobs and foster economic growth,” he said.
The technical bid opening is the first phase of a multi-stage process.
Successful companies will proceed to financial and operational assessments before final selection.
With this initiative, the Cross River State Government reaffirms its commitment to leveraging private sector expertise to transform agriculture into a key driver of economic growth.
