 |
| Aiyedatiwa |
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has ordered a comprehensive boundary audit of a disputed forest reserve linked to Rex Forestry Limited in Ondo West Local Government Area, as part of efforts to resolve tensions between farmers and investors while promoting a mixed land-use system.
The governor issued the directive on Monday during a meeting with farmers drawn from 27 communities affected by the dispute, held at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Akure.
Aiyedatiwa said the state government was committed to a structured land-use arrangement that would accommodate both agricultural activities and large-scale investment within clearly defined boundaries, warning against speculation in land administration decisions.
He noted discrepancies in claims over the size of the concession, which range between 37,000 and 50,000 hectares, while community representatives insist that about 10,000 hectares are currently under cultivation by local farmers.
The governor directed the Surveyor-General of the state to conduct a detailed verification and demarcation exercise, stressing that government conclusions would be based strictly on verified data.
He assured farmers that no cocoa farms would be destroyed during the audit process, adding that existing plantations would be preserved.
“They are not touching your cocoa trees until we finish verification,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa explained that where adjustments become necessary, government would adopt a phased approach to implementation rather than forced displacement, while also providing alternative farmlands and seedlings for affected farmers.
He also disclosed plans to establish new farm settlements under a broader agricultural restructuring programme aimed at sustaining production and improving rural livelihoods.
The governor emphasized the need to balance the interests of rural farmers with investment inflows, describing large-scale investors as key drivers of job creation, industrial growth and infrastructure development.
He maintained that existing concessions granted by previous administrations remain valid, insisting on continuity in land administration policies.
Aiyedatiwa further highlighted ongoing private sector involvement in rural infrastructure, noting that an investor is currently constructing a 27-kilometre road valued at about N1bn to open up farming communities in the area.
According to him, such interventions would improve market access for farmers and create employment opportunities for youths in rural areas.
He urged residents to avoid confrontation with investors and to channel grievances through appropriate government institutions.
The governor advocated a mixed land-use model that integrates smallholder farmers with agribusiness investors, saying both are essential to sustainable agricultural development in the state.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ondo State Development and Investment Promotion Agency (ONDIPA), Emmanuel Omomowo, said the government had been mediating disputes arising from investor concessions within forest reserves.
He explained that Rex Forestry Limited holds a 37,000-hectare concession, but overlapping community claims and boundary uncertainties had necessitated high-level government intervention.
Omomowo expressed optimism that the governor’s intervention would produce a balanced and lasting solution that protects both community interests and investment.
Also speaking, the General Chairman of the Ondo Ilulade Cocoa Farmers Cooperative Society, Chief Philip Akinbanjo, commended the governor for assuring farmers that their plantations would not be encroached upon, urging continued cooperation among stakeholders.
A representative of Rex Forestry Limited, Olu Agunloye, said the company had earlier agreed with the Ministry of Agriculture to allow farmers continue cultivation in un-cleared portions of the concession.
He said the company would abide by the governor’s directive and operate within the emerging framework designed to ensure peaceful coexistence between farmers and investors.
The meeting had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola; lawmakers, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.
0 Comments