Calabar– A landmark resolution has been reached to revive the long-dormant Ayip Eku Oil Palm Estate in Akamkpa LGA, with Cross River State government, host communities, and Wingsong M-House Palm Oil Investment Limited agreeing on a clear roadmap to operationalize the 12,400-hectare agricultural asset.
At a high-stakes stakeholders’ meeting convened by the State Ministry of Agriculture at Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, all parties endorsed a three-point plan to end the 10-year impasse:
1. Immediate Operations: Wingsong, confirmed by the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) as the legitimate owner (95% shares), will access the estate within 30 days.
2. Community Benefits: The company must deliver overdue Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects—including roads, scholarships, and electricity—as per the 2007 Share Sale Agreement.
3. Development Blueprint: A 5-year phased development plan will be submitted to the state within 60 days.
The estate, privatized in 2007 and handed to Wingsong in 2009, became inaccessible from 2013–2023 due to disputes with host communities (Iku, Abun, Okarara, Ako, and Nundebiji). A March 2025 BPE letter presented at the meeting validated Wingsong’s ownership and confirmed that compensation for land and economic trees had been paid to communities in 2008.
Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, Commissioner for Agriculture, warned: “This is a win-win. We won’t tolerate idle assets or exploited communities.” He emphasized that the estate must remain strictly agricultural, with the DSS and police monitoring compliance.
Youth leader Hon. Adolf Majini voiced cautious optimism: “Our youth demand jobs. This deal must deliver.” Community leaders stressed the need for tangible benefits, particularly employment and infrastructure.
