60 Farmers Benefit As Akamkpa Flags Off Free Distribution Of 15,000 Oil Palm Seedlings

AKAMKPA , CROSS RIVER – No fewer than 60 farmers across Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State are set to benefit from the free distribution of 15,000 oil palm seedlings under a new agricultural empowerment programme initiated by the local government council.

The Executive Chairman of Akamkpa Local Government Council, Hon. Amb. (Ophot) Felix Akposi, flagged off the distribution exercise on Thursday at the Council’s Oil Palm Nursery Site, describing the initiative as part of efforts to boost agricultural productivity, create wealth and strengthen the local economy.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary Daniel Ogbor, said the programme was deliberately designed to support genuine farmers and encourage large-scale cultivation of oil palm across communities in the local government area.

According to him, beneficiaries were carefully selected through recommendations from stakeholders in various wards and communities to ensure that only active farmers benefited from the scheme.

“From the records available to me, sixty persons will benefit from this gesture and the least you can cultivate is a hectare,” the Chairman said.

He emphasized that the seedlings were distributed completely free of charge and warned against attempts to commercialize or divert the programme.

“These palm seedlings are free. No one bought the form used in shortlisting the beneficiaries. All the beneficiaries were recommended to us by various stakeholders from different wards and communities, as we insisted on real farmers and not those who will collect palm seedlings only to sell them out,” Akposi stated.

The Chairman urged beneficiaries to maximize the opportunity by cultivating the seedlings and contributing to agricultural growth, employment generation and economic development in Akamkpa and beyond.

The flag-off ceremony attracted traditional rulers, community leaders, agricultural stakeholders, government officials and beneficiaries who witnessed the symbolic presentation of seedlings to the first batch of recipients.

Speaking at the event, the Paramount Ruler of Akamkpa, HRM Amb. Dr. Agbor Ewa Ebani, commended the council chairman for what he described as a visionary initiative capable of transforming the economic fortunes of many families.

The monarch advised beneficiaries against selling the seedlings, noting that the programme offered a pathway to long-term prosperity through agriculture.

“The Council Chairman has, through this initiative, created indigenous Wilmars in our communities. This is not merely the distribution of seedlings; it is the planting of prosperity and the creation of future wealth for our people,” he said.

Ebani further described the programme as a demonstration of responsible leadership and urged other public office holders to invest in initiatives that directly impact the lives of citizens.

Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Christopher Egot of New Ekuri in Iko Ward and Mr. Simon Attah of Nsan Community in Awi Ward expressed appreciation to the council for the intervention.

The beneficiaries said they initially doubted the authenticity of the programme because it was entirely free but were eventually convinced by the transparency of the process.

“We feel very proud to be beneficiaries of this free distribution of oil palm seedlings. We make bold to say that we did not pay a dime for it,” they said.

The beneficiaries added that they were surprised when they were informed that neither application forms nor seedlings would attract any cost.

“When we received the forms, we had our misgivings, especially when we were told everything was free. It sounded too good to be true, but today all of that is history. We are grateful to the Chairman and everyone who made this possible,” they stated.

Earlier, the Supervisor for Agriculture, Mr. Bassey Eyo Ikey, explained that the exercise was only commencing with the flag-off ceremony and that distribution would continue until all approved beneficiaries received their allocations.

“This is only a flag-off ceremony. The distribution will continue until all beneficiaries, based on recommendations made by their various communities and stakeholders, are attended to,” he said.

Truth Live News gathered that the initiative forms part of the Akposi administration’s broader agricultural development agenda aimed at promoting agribusiness participation, creating sustainable livelihoods, improving food security and positioning Akamkpa as a major oil palm production hub in Cross River State.

The event concluded with the inspection of the oil palm nursery facility by dignitaries and stakeholders, as well as the presentation of seedlings to beneficiaries selected for the first phase of the programme.