Ogun Unveils High-Capacity Poultry Facility to Cut Imports, Boost Jobs

The Ogun State Government has unveiled a newly constructed poultry processing facility with the capacity to process 5,000 birds per day at the Ajegunle Farm Settlement in Odeda Local Government Area, a move expected to significantly reduce poultry importation and strengthen local production. The facility can process an additional 1.3 million birds annually, positioning Ogun State as a major hub in Nigeria’s poultry value chain.

The Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Bolu Owotomo, disclosed this during a tour of agricultural projects in Odeda and Yewa South Local Government Areas. The visit marked the first phase of an inspection of ongoing and completed projects across the state. According to Owotomo, the facility was acquired under the World Bank-backed Ogun State Economic Transformation Project and aligns with Governor Dapo Abiodun’s commitment to supporting farmers and expanding food production.

Owotomo noted that the Ajegunle Farm Settlement, designated as a poultry hub, hosts about 400 resident farmers and is equipped with modern infrastructure, including blast freezers, cold rooms, waste processing units, warehouses with office spaces, and poultry pens with a 20,000-bird capacity. He added that private sector interest is growing, with a recent investor completing a 13,000-capacity poultry pen at the site.

The commissioner revealed that 28 agricultural projects have been completed across Ogun State in the past two years, alongside interventions such as OG-CARES, the Value Chain Development Programme, and Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zones. These initiatives aim to improve productivity, reduce post-harvest losses estimated at ₦3.5 trillion annually, and enhance farmers’ livelihoods.

Owotomo also highlighted Nigeria’s low per capita chicken consumption compared to other African and global markets, stressing the need to boost local capacity despite the ban on imported frozen poultry. At additional project sites, including Eweje Farm Institute and a cassava processing facility in Yewa South, he assured stakeholders of sustained investment and strong public-private partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability.