The Edo State government has debunked the allegations that it has sold the forest reserve in Ovia South-West Local Government Area of the state where cocoa farmers carry out agricultural activities.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Joshua Omokhodion, who dismissed the allegation in an interview on Tuesday said: “I can tell you in clear terms that such narrative is obviously not correct.
“The state government did not sell any of its land. The Forest Commission is directly under my ministry and if such a thing is to happen, I think I am the one who should append my signature,” Omokhodion said.
Nigerian Tribune gathered that the Marindoti cocoa farmers’ apprehension over the rumoured sales of the reserve forest (Area BC9) located beside Okomu oil palm plantation sandwiched between the Ovia River and the oil palm plantation towards Akotogbo end of Edo State allegedly stemmed from an emergency meeting called at the behest of indigenous elders of neighbouring communities to whom their annual royalties are paid.
One of the leaders of Marindoti Cocoa Farmers’ Association (MCFA), Mr Olaitan Oyeniji, said the farmers who are mostly Yoruba from South-West had been farming and paying annual royalty to the acclaimed landlords in the area for over 40 years.
The volume of cocoa production in the villages that make up Marindoti bloc, Adeniji said, is about 500,000 tonnes yearly, saying the farmers developed the vast forest area since late 80s making it a hub for cocoa trade.
MCFA appealed to the state government to shelve the idea of selling the land as they were told that the government had sold the land to an unknown farmer who intends planting palm tree.
The group expressed appreciation to the state government, promising to take the message home to their members in their respective villages, adding that having heard from the government they are satisfied.
Additionally, the farmers called on the state government to come to their help concerning the security situation in the area, stressing that farmers live at the mercy of hardened criminals who take their members, including women and children hostage for ransoms.
“We have been facing the dilemma of commercial hostage takers in Marindoti every other week and huge ransoms paid on several occasions until the 4 Brigade Headquarters of the Nigerian Army in Benin City stepped up security surveillance in General Area but mere surveillance is not putting the criminals in check and for this we are asking for permanent army checkpoints in the neighbourhood.
Adeniji added that farmers are doing their best to pay taxes to the state government through produce tax on the roads.
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