A project of the Ondo State Government for massive production of oil palm through agro-allied companies has led to thousands of peasant farmers being thrown off their farmlands.,
INVESTIGATION: TETFund’s N3.8 billion training contract triggers procurement controversy, concernsINVESTIGATION: How Nigerian soldiers killed unarmed civilians in Kaduna community
After three months of the exercise in five communities across the forest reserves of Ondo West Local Government Area, thousands of hectares of cocoa, kolanuts and palm trees were cleared and the land was made bare. Whether you turn to Premium Times for daily updates, in-depth investigations into pressing national issues, or entertaining trending stories, we value your readership.
Gbemiga Ogunleye is the leader and spokesperson of the farmers in Abana. The father of three was making about N4 million annually from cocoa sales and had hoped to raise his earnings to N20 million this year, he said. “The land belongs to the government, that is why we have little to say and we appear to be helpless,” he added.Representatives of the affected farmers on 27 March took their grievances to the paramount ruler of Ondo kingdom, the Osemawe, Victor Kiladejo, who promised to pass their petitions to the state government.
“We confirm that our farmlands had been sold to China by the immediate past administration of Akeredolu, we saw that they have brought in bulldozers to clear some parts in which we have witnessed,” the community head said. There is also a growing domestic consumption of palm oil with about 1.8 million metric tonnes consumed in Nigeria in the 2021/2022 crop year. This figure was higher than each of the 10 preceding years. Most local consumption is for industrial purposes, while a smaller percentage is used by households.
By the end of 2022, the state government had expanded the project to 80,000 hectares. In recognition of the state’s commitment to the project, NPPAN conferred an award of the Distinguished Champion of Red Gold on Mr Akeredolu. The land of the farmers in Abana is part of the Red Gold project. “We have sought legal actions, we have protested and we have appealed to the relevant authorities, but nothing positive has happened. We have lost billions of naira and lives as well. We are saying what you have destroyed is enough, stop further destruction so that those who are alive can survive.”Ondo State has an expansive forest reserve over which it has been engaged in a losing battle for decades to stop farmers from encroaching.
Mr Olotu said the cluster farming was successful at Oluwa where the farmers were registered under the Atewolara Cocoa Farmers Cooperatives. However the majority of the farmers were not ready for change and insisted on practices contrary to the policy of the government, he said.“We gave them a soft landing. We gave them the opportunity of relocating to a new enclave where they would be allocated lands and grow improved seeds and get more yields, but they turned it down,” he said.
SAO said on its website that it currently runs a farm operation covering 20,000 hectares. However, it is not known how many of these it has in Abana and Idanre. “Compensation and process to execute this will have been initiated by government as the assurance from government before making these huge investments in acquiring the land and developing the estates were assurances of hitch-free activities on the land.
“We did experience farmer protest when we started last year, violence from them from time to time. However, we have since brought them on board, provided over 1000 jobs since inception, healthcare to anyone needing it, and with plans to develop schools, health centres, we haven’t experienced any protests because we have given them enough soft landing, having been notified about two years now,” the company said.
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
SPECIAL REPORT: Peasant farmers’ dreams turn to nightmares as Ondo govt gives land to corporate investorsA project of the Ondo State Government for massive production of oil palm through agro-allied companies has led to thousands of peasant farmers being thrown off their farmlands.,
Read more »
Ondo APC primary: Why Ondo South leaders won’t support Aiyedatiwa, says OdimayoThe Nation Newspaper Ondo APC primary: Why Ondo South leaders won’t support Aiyedatiwa, says Odimayo
Read more »
Minister of Interior disassociates himself from report on Tinubu's preferred candidate for Ondo Governorship electionThe Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has disassociated himself from a report that President Bola Tinubu picked Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State as his preferred candidate for the Nov.16 Governorship election in the state.
Read more »
Police Order Investigation into Alleged Certificate Forgery Report on Ondo GovernorThe Nigeria Police Force has ordered an investigation into the source of a report on alleged certificate forgery of Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa circulating in the media. The police clarified that the alleged signatory of a Deputy Commissioner of Police does not have authorization to release such a report on behalf of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) or any other department within the Nigeria Police Force.
Read more »
Police deny report of alleged certificate forgery against Ondo governorPolice has addressed the circulation of a document containing an investigation into allegations against Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa
Read more »
Ondo guber: Police disown report on ‘certificate forgery' against AiyedatiwaNigeria's independent online newspaper
Read more »