Gov Okowa flags-off construction of $1.6bn Tingo Foods' Processing facility in Delta

Gov Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State.

By Editor 

Feb 13,  2023

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa has performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of $1.6billion dollar Tingo Foods' Processing company in the state.

DailyMonitorngr reports that the groundbreaking ceremony  took place at Onicha-Ugbo, Aniocha

North Local Government Area of the state, the site of the project.

Okowa who was represented by Prof Eric Eboh, the state's Chief Job Creation Officer commended the investors, asserting that  the project was a validation of the conducive business environment created by his administration in the past seven and half years. 

He opined that the benefits of the project to farmers and people of the state were in line with the development objectives of the state government which include job creation, inclusive growth and sustainable prosperity for all Deltans.

He assured that the state government would continue to identify with the project given the potential benefits of the private sector agro-processing complex to the agricultural value chain in the state.

In his remarks, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development disclosed that the facility was one of the private sector initiatives under the Special Agricultural Processing Zones (SAPZs) programme of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and African Development Bank. 

"This has the potential to create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and modernise the agricultural sector. Branding it as a shining example of what can be achieved through collaboration", said.

Earlier, Dozy Mmobuosi, Founder of Tingo Foods said the processing facility represented a major step forward in the quest to empower farmers, transform the food processing industry, and build a brighter future for Africa.

According to him, "with this facility development, we are taking bold action to address the challenges facing the agricultural sector and bring about sustainable change to the continent and beyond.”

On his part, President of Tingo Foods Plc, Dr. Christopher Cleverly, said the facility is an agro-industrial complex that will produce a variety of food products including rice, pasta (noodles and spaghetti) , tea, beverages, beer, bottled water, biscuits, chocolate and others.

Cleverly added that the project also includes a storage facility to serve the factories and covers a total area of 382,600 square metres (38.26 ha).

He also added that the facility which is  the first of its kind in the Africa continent  was expected to be operational in 18 months and will create no fewer than 12,000 jobs.

He said the facility will also contribute to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which seeks to end poverty, fight climate change, and zero hunger.

"Tingo Foods Processing Facility is a proud moment in our long-standing mission to provide a sustainable source of food for generations to come and empower the hardworking farmers who make it all possible.

"The project will provide a sustainable source of food for future generations and make farmers the heroes of the story", he added.