The Cross River State government in Nigeria may revoke the title to 12,400 hectares of Ayi Eku oil palm estate in Akamkpa Local Government Area.
The property, operated by Ningsong M-House Palm Oil Ltd, reportedly owned by former Senate President, Bukola Saraki.
Diaspora Digital Media gathered that this decision follows complaints of neglect of the vast estate, which has reportedly become fallow, by residents of the area.
The Ayi Eku Oil Palm Estate was privatized in 2007 under the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo, with Saraki’s firm allegedly receiving the title to the estate.
Now, the Cross River State government has given the investors one month to submit detailed plans for regenerating and developing the plantation for full-fledged business.
Failure to comply may result in the state House of Assembly beginning the process of revoking the license.
Commissioner for Agriculture, Johnson Ebokpo, leading other high-ranking state government officials, stated that the state has received numerous petitions from host communities against the estate’s owners, calling for new investors to take over.
Stakeholders, government officials, and security agencies held a roundtable in Calabar to address the petitions.
Ebokpo said the state had to intervene to resolve issues between the five communities that donated the land and the firm.
Allegations against the firm include failure to implement terms of reference, lack of corporate social responsibility, and illegal timber logging in the Cross River National Park.
The firm has been warned to act responsibly and re-establish engagement with the communities to mitigate tension while awaiting the development plan.
Failure to comply may result in the loss of ownership.
The Managing Director of the firm, Mr. Moyi Ladoja, denied allegations of lumbering and appealed for a two-month extension to detail development plans.
He cited misunderstandings between host communities and the firm as a barrier to full operations.
