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ODSG ALLAYS FEARS OF LAND OWNERS OVER USAGE FOR AGRICULTURAL PURPOSES
As part of its ongoing community engagement, the Ondo State Government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, is working to secure land for agricultural development in the Akoko area of the state.
In continuation of this effort, the state government and delegates from prospective investors paid an on-the-spot visit to Iboropa and Auga communities.
The purpose was to engage traditional rulers, community leaders, youths, and landowners in amicable discussions on land availability for agricultural industrialization.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Engr. Leye Akinola, said the visit was a follow-up to an earlier sensitization by the Ministry to inform the people of the planned development in their domains.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Agriculture Sub-sector of the Ministry, Mrs. Foluke Tunde-Daramola, said the community engagement was to ensure inclusiveness and that no one was left out as discussions progress.
Engr. Akinola assured landowners and community leaders that no ceded land would be used for purposes other than agriculture. He stressed that the terms and conditions would be clearly spelt out in a Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by all stakeholders.
“Land ceded will be strictly for agricultural industrialization purposes and for no other use,” he added.
He urged the communities to nominate representatives to serve on a committee that will be set up for further discussions, to ensure transparency and that no one is cheated. He noted that the government would ensure landowners are adequately compensated in line with the rules of engagement, while also ensuring that investors get value for their money.
“As a government, we are going to ensure that everybody is carried along in this scheme. Nobody will be cheated when handing over their lands, and the investors who bring in funds will also make profits from their investments. We are committed to ensuring a win-win situation,” he said.
The Commissioner further explained that the land would not be outrightly purchased. Instead, it would be on a lease arrangement, with all terms and conditions agreed upon by stakeholders before signing.
He also advised communities to involve their sons and daughters in the diaspora for better understanding and information dissemination. He assured that the government would prevent conflicts between communities and investors, and where any arises, there would be adequate mechanisms for management and resolution.
Speaking on behalf of the investors, Mr. Yemi Aminu, General Manager, Business Development and Investment at Time Development Limited, said the company facilitated the partnership with Jiahua Energy, a China-based company, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
He said the company is ready to drive agricultural industrialization through oil palm cultivation. According to him, the company needs palm kernels extracted from palm fruits. “The project is two-in-one because we will source raw materials from the land given to us and also site the processing factory in the same location to add value to the raw materials, rather than exporting them to China,” he said.
Mr. Aminu informed the communities that the company is financially stable and logistically capable of embarking on the multi-billion-dollar agricultural development project.
He added that the company would provide palm seedlings, fertilizers, and equipment to farmers and other logistics to farmers engaged.
He urged the communities to cooperate with the government and investors to achieve the desired goals, and promised that all agreements would be fulfilled once drafted and signed.
He noted that farmers and indigenes would be the ones to be engaged by the company when it takes off.
Mr. Aminu also called on the communities, through the Royal Fathers, to submit names of representatives to serve on the committee that will consider all opinions, terms, and conditions leading to the Memorandum of Understanding to be signed by all stakeholders.
In their separate remarks at their palaces, the Oluboropa of Iboropa Akoko, Oba Babatunde Olaleye, and the Alauga of Auga Akoko, Oba Samuel Agunloye, thanked the state government for bringing the multi-billion-dollar agricultural project to their domains.
They said the project would transform the host communities, Akoko, Ondo State, and Nigeria at large, due to the volume of products expected and the increase in revenue generation.
The monarchs said the project would attract development to their kingdoms and create thousands of job opportunities for their subjects.
According to a statement signed by the Head of Media in the ministry, Sola Omoboyowa, they promised total support for the project and pledged to forward the names of stakeholders to serve on the committee to discuss the mode of action before the MOU is signed.
Also speaking, a youth leader in Iboropa Akoko, Barr. Odunayo Moses Philip, appreciated the Ondo State Government and investors for bringing the agricultural project to their area. He stressed that the community would not accept any part of their land being used for purposes other than agriculture, which is what it is being ceded for.
Similarly, Mr. Bakare Akorede Basiru, a farmer and landowner from Auga Akoko, said they would support the initiative if they were adequately carried along in the process and no group was left out in discussions on land use.
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