Ellah Lakes launches major capital drive to power expansion

Ellah Lakes Plc

By Chinyere Anyanwu

To boost its growth, Ellah Lakes Plc, Nigeria’s pioneer integrated agro-industrial company, has announced its formal intention to undertake a Public Offer following the signing ceremony held on November 5, 2025.

The public offer, according to the company, is set to run for 20 days from November 10, 2025.

At a press conference in Lagos yesterday, the company provided a comprehensive overview of its robust strategic positioning, significant operational milestones and ambitious plans for future growth and expansion in Nigeria’s agro-industrial sector.

The company’s leadership highlighted Ellah Lakes’ distinctive, multi-dimensional positioning strategy across Nigeria’s agricultural landscape. With over 30,000 hectares of land assets spanning Enugu, Edo, Ekiti and Ondo states, the company is geographically diversified, capturing varied climatic advantages essential for its multi-crop operations.

Mr. Chuka Mordi, Chief Executive Officer, Ellah Lakes Plc, said, “this N235 billion capital raise is a definitive statement of intent. It is our commitment to our shareholders to deliver economies of scale, market resilience and long-term value creation. We are confident that by deploying this capital e!ectively and executing our clear strategy, Ellah Lakes will solidify its position as the undisputed leading indigenous agro-industrial giant in West Africa.”

A key focus of the listing of the additional shares is the company’s successful execution of its vertical integration strategy. The commissioning of its 6-tonne-per-hour Crude Palm Oil (CPO) mill is a strategic move designed to build a more robust and scalable revenue model less vulnerable to external supply chain disruptions.

Furthermore, Ellah Lakes has bolstered its resilience through diversified revenue streams, combining long-term oil palm investments with medium-term cassava cultivation and more immediate revenue from its piggery operations.

The company’s journey is deeply rooted in carefully sequenced capital raises and targeted Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) that have progressively rebuilt and strengthened its agro-industrial platform.

This includes the pivotal 2019 reverse acquisition by Telluria Limited, which integrated valuable oil palm assets and expertise, laying the foundation for vertical integration; and its recent announcement of its acquisition of 100 per cent shareholding of Agro-Allied Resources & Processing Nigeria Limited (ARPN). The acquired assets included 11,783 hectares of cultivated land, 2093 hectares of cassava plantations, and an additional 10,393 hectares of uncultivated land.

Speaking on the ARPN acquisition, Paul Farrer, Deputy Managing Director of Ellah Lakes Plc, said: “This acquisition marked a pivotal moment for Ellah Lakes as we strengthen our foothold in Nigeria’s agribusiness sector. Agro-Allied Resources & Processing Nigeria Limited (ARPN) brings a robust land bank and operational assets that align perfectly with our vision of vertical integration and sustainable growth. The ARPN acquisition will deliver immediate scale and financial benefits, achieving in months what would have taken years organically, while unlocking significant long-term potential for crop diversification and vertical integration. This will deliver value to all stakeholders as it delivers operational and financial scale immediately.”

Prudent subsequent financing such as the 2023 N2.9 billion rights issue and the late 2024 debt-to-equity conversion, has strengthened the balance sheet and provided the necessary liquidity to secure the 30,000+ hectares and commission the CPO mill.

The press conference culminated in the announcement of the company’s pivotal 2025 milestone, the upcoming launch of the N235 billion capital raise. This infusion is earmarked for funding a strategic acquisition of a significant agricultural asset to expand operational capacity and diversify revenue streams.

This capital raise signals Ellah Lakes’ shift from a rebuilding phase to one of aggressive expansion and technological differentiation, aiming to establish a next-generation agribusiness platform that aligns with Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.

Breaking news & top stories

Stay connected with The Sun Newspaper

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and live updates delivered straight to your phone. Join thousands of readers already following us on Whatsapp Channel and Telegram.

Breaking news & top stories

Follow The Sun Newspaper

Get live updates & exclusive stories delivered straight to your phone.

Breaking news & top stories

Stay connected with The Sun Newspaper

Get breaking news, exclusive stories, and live updates delivered straight to your phone. Join thousands of readers already following us on Whatsapp Channel and Telegram.