Resuscitating Akwa Prime Hatchery: A Call to Further Revive Umo Eno’s Agricultural Vision

By Asuquo Edem

Once envisioned as a cornerstone of Akwa Ibom’s agricultural revolution, the Akwa Prime Hatchery and Poultry Limited, located at Mbiaya, Uruan Local Government Area, now lies in a state of neglect — a shadow of the multi-million-naira investment it once was. The facility, designed to deliver 20,000 day-old chicks (DOCs) weekly, has become moribund, failing to serve the purpose for which it was established.

This development is particularly worrisome given the current realities facing livestock farmers across the state. The price of a day-old chick has soared to ₦2,200 and may rise to ₦3,000 in the coming weeks — a situation that threatens poultry sustainability and food affordability.

Ironically, despite the presence of a state-owned hatchery equipped with modern incubators and facilities, the State Ministry of Agriculture reportedly sources DOCs from Ibadan, Oyo State, for onward distribution to farmers in Akwa Ibom. This practice not only questions the viability of the Mbiaya facility but also undermines the spirit of economic self-reliance the project was meant to promote.

The Akwa Prime Hatchery was originally conceived to boost poultry production, create employment opportunities, and ensure the steady supply of affordable chicks to farmers. Its decline represents a loss of public investment and a missed opportunity to strengthen the agricultural value chain — from feed mills to processing and marketing.

Akwa Ibom State Governor Pastor Umo Eno’s ARISE Agenda, which places Agriculture as the first pillar, emphasizes food sufficiency, rural empowerment, and local production. Reviving the Mbiaya hatchery would align perfectly with that vision. With minimal refurbishment, transparent management, and public-private partnership, the facility could once again become a hub for poultry development, benefiting farmers across the South-South.

It is time for the Umo Eno administration to revisit the hatchery’s blueprint, audit its current state, and take decisive action. Beyond symbolism, putting Akwa Prime back to work will reaffirm the government’s commitment to transforming agriculture from rhetoric to reality — and ensure that Akwa Ibom truly feeds itself.

Comments

Improved Working Conditions For Teachers In Rural Areas Underway As AKHA Advocates Provision Of Live-In Quarters

Secondary school teachers posted to rural areas in the State would have a sigh of relief as lawmakers of the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has advocated to the State Government for the provision of live-in quarters to reduce the burden of transportation and solve issues of accomodation. This was sequel to a report presented to the House by the Chairman House Committee on Education, Hon. Kenim Onofiok during Plenary today. Hon. Onofiok informed the House that the Committee had invited stakeholders from the Ministry including Commissioner for Education, Chairmen, State Secondary Education Board, Permanent Secretaries to discuss on the matter. The House thereafter dissolved into the Committee of the Whole where the two recommendations of the report were adopted. The House recommended that the State Government extends the fencing of schools to every local government area in the State and also prioritize the building of live-in quarters for teachers to provide accommoda...

Breaking: A’Ibom Governor Removes Two Aides Amid Restructuring, Alleged PDP Links

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Bassey Eno, has relieved two aides of their duties with immediate effect, the state government announced on Monday. The affected officials are: Joseph Jacob Ikpak, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Support Services Felix Ekuri, Special Assistant to the Governor on Neighbourhood Watch Their disengagement was contained in a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prince Enobong Uwah, who described the action as part of the governor’s ongoing efforts to realign the machinery of government with the Renewed Hope and ARISE Agenda. The statement did not provide further details on the circumstances leading to their removal. However, it was gathered from multiple political sources that the decision may be linked to the aides’ alleged association with the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). The claim has not been officially confirmed, and the government has not commented on the speculation. Political analysts no...

Tragedy at Ikot Ekpene General Hospital: Akwa Ibom Governor Orders Probe Into Maternal Death

By Asuquo Edem UYO – A tragic incident at the General Hospital, Ikot Ekpene, has sparked public outrage after a young mother and her newborn reportedly died following a caesarean section, prompting Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State to order an immediate high-powered investigation. A disturbing video of the grieving family began circulating on social media over the weekend, drawing widespread condemnation and raising fresh concerns over maternal mortality in the state. Moved by the incident, Governor Eno expressed his condolences to the bereaved family and directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Ekem Emmanuel John, to convene a commission of inquiry comprising medical and legal experts. The panel is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths and recommend preventive measures. In a dramatic move, Dr. John led a midnight team of officials from the Ministry of Health to the hospital for an on-the-spot preliminary investigation, gathering firsthand testimonies f...

The Empire Naija

Search This Blog