Traditional rulers from the 13 communities in Mkpat Enin local government area of Akwa Ibom State have staged a protest against the seizure of their lands by the administration of former Governor Udom Emmanuel for a coconut plantation, demanding N13 billion from the present administration.
The vast expanse of land was reportedly seized by former Governor Emmanuel in 2016 for a coconut plantation intended to supply the St Gabriel Coconut Oil Refinery. Despite numerous appeals and court cases, the former governor allegedly failed to compensate the affected communities, prompting them to resort to protest.
During a press conference held at the palace of Chief Raymond Udia, the chairman of the forum, in Ikot Ekong community, the village heads of the 13 affected communities in Ikpa Ibom clan appealed to Governor Udom Emmanuel to address their grievances, emphasizing the significance of the acquired lands to their livelihoods.
The communique, delivered by Chief Cletus Inyang, the forum’s secretary, urged the governor to adhere to due process and the rule of law by providing adequate compensation to landowners and holders of deemed customary Right of Occupancy (C of O) of St Gabriel Coconut Plantation.
The affected communities highlighted the adverse impact of the land seizure, noting that thousands of hectares of communal, family, and private land had been compulsorily acquired by the state government since 2016, displacing many farmers and disrupting agricultural activities in the area.
They recalled the government’s allocation of funds for the importation of coconut seedlings and the approval of compensation payments totaling N26 billion in 2018, which included the St Gabriel Coconut Plantation and Refinery Limited among the beneficiaries. However, the landowners of the plantation claim they have yet to receive compensation for their acquired lands.
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