the people of Imo state, Avutu Poultry farm is indeed one of the projects that has constantly continued to attract socio-economic debate in the state.
Located at Obowo local government area of the state, multimillion naira Avutu poultry farm project was established by the administration of late Sam Mbakwe in the late 90s with a view to providing the people of the state and even beyond an employment opportunity.
WITHIN NIGERIA source gathered that after about two decades of operation, the giant farm project collapsed, throwing thousands of the employees into the street in search of job and means of livelihood.
However, it was gathered that with the collapse of the project, it became a source of campaign manifesto for each and every party, vying for the governorship position in the state.
Chidimma Dibia is a native of Obowo local government area of the state. In a chat with our reporter, she explained that her father, Cletus Dibia worked with the Avutu Poultry in the early 2000s and was disengaged when the farm went under.
“My father Cletus Dibia worked in Avutu poultry farm in the late 90s and early 2000s. He used the salary to train my elder siblings. But when I entered Institute of Management and Technology, IMT, Enugu, the collapsed, making my parents to find it hard to train me in school.”
Narrating further, Chidimma said that “till today, my father is still being owed about eight months salary by the farm.”
Another resident of the community Emmanuel Mmadueke told our reporter that “ it was very unfortunate that the Avutu poultry farm collapsed when it was most needed by the state. My elder brother worked in the farm and it went a long way in helping to train his children and myself. We are appealing to the state government to expedite action to make sure that the poultry is revived.”
Hoodlums vandalise the poultry, steal the equipment
Since the collapse, there has been reports of alleged vandalisation of the poultry men of the underworld.
However, in December 2020, five armed men were arrested for allegedly vandalizing the poultry. Though some valuable equipment were carted away, these suspects were paraded to deter others from making any criminal attempt on the poultry.
The then Imo state commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Danjuma Elisha, while parading the suspects in Owerri, told newsmen that they were arrested following a tip off by members of the public to the Corps.
According to him, the arrest happened at Okpalla community in the state with some of the stolen materials from the multimillion-naira poultry farm.
By and large, one of the suspects who gave his name as Onuegbu Obinna while speaking to newsmen explained that he was arrested because of the item he bought. He claimed that he had no knowledge of the fact that the items were stolen. Another suspect, who gave his name as Uwandu Chikadibia, said that he was the driver conveying the materials to Aba, insisting not to be a member of the bandits.
In his words, “they came to me and asked that I take them with the materials to Aba, and I charged them N25,000 as an advance payment.
“I never knew those materials were stolen. Please I am innocent. I don’t know these people from Adams,” he appealed.
Some of the items recovered from the suspects included aluminum roofing sheets, H-iron, beams and oxygen cylinder.
Imo state government on the Avutu poultry project
As the concerns mount over the abandonment of the Avutu poultry, the governor of Imo state Dr. Hope Uzodinma recently released a statement promising the people of the state of his commitment towards revamping the farm.
WITHIN NIGERIA gathered that the statement which was part of his campaign promises in the 2023 general election reads thus; “the abandoned multi-million naira Imo Modern Poultry Farm, Avutu, established by the late Governor Sam Mbakwe’s administration will soon bounce back to business under our shared prosperity administration.
“This is in line with the rehabilitation and reconstruction initiatives of our 3R mantra.
“The Avutu Poultry farm is one of the Giant strides of Late Dee Sam Mbakwe who selflessly governed our State and left a footprint which has remained indelible in the sands of time.
“Consequently, the doors of thousands of job opportunities will yet again be opened for Imo people as the Deputy Governor, Prof Placid Njoku led other Government functionaries to visit the moribund Avutu, Obowo Poultry Farm.
“Unemployment and underutilization of Human resources have remained one of the cardinal problems facing us as a people. The farm, when revived, will have the capacity to gainfully employ thousands of Imo Youths.
“It is sad that this facility, which has the capacity to generate enormous employment for Ndị Imo and revenue for the State has faced such level of neglect by previous Governments. I reassure Imo people that the Farm will soon come to life again.”
However, since the above statement was released shortly before the 2023 general, nothing has been done about the project and the poultry has become a hideout for many criminal elements, some of whom loot and cart away with valuable equipment.
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