Ogun farmers accuse land grabbers of encroachment

Land grabbers and sand diggers have reportedly taken over a larger part of the 7,000 hectares of government’s farm settlements in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Coker Farm Settlement, which was established by late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, is one of the eight farm settlements inherited by the Ogun State Government from the old Western Region.

The farmers at the settlement, who spoke with our correspondent on Thursday, said land grabbers and sand diggers had taken over the settlement.

According to them, the same is the situation with other seven settlements across the state.

The Secretary of the settlement and the state Secretary of Farm Settlers Association, Kazeem Adediran and Oba Kufo respectively, alleged that the invaders connived with government officials.

The duo alleged that the land grabbers had destroyed cash crops including rubber, cocoa, and oil palm plantations, among others.

Kufo stated that the purposes for the establishment of the settlements to provide food for the populace and raw materials for industrial growth, were being defeated by the alleged non-challant attitude of the state government.

He said the land was acquired by Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1958, adding that adequate compensation was paid to the land owners.

He said, “The farm settlements accounted for 50 per cent of food produce in the markets and 50 per cent of raw materials available for agro-based industries in the old Western Region.”

Adediran said the farmers presented their position during the sitting of a panel of inquiry on land matters set up by the state government in 2012, noting that the White Paper released on the committee’s report was not implemented.

The Chairman of the settlers association, Maj. Adeola Olubakin also alleged that one of the commissioners in the state had been hobnobbing with the speculators.

The farmers appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene, alleging that the Ogun State Government was only after the collection of rents and not the existence of the farm.

Credit: Punch