The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo community

  • Edo community holds festival

    Edo community holds festival

    Nigerians have been urged to eschew cultural imperialism and embrace their heritage to restore the self-worth ofAfricans among the comity of nations.

    The Oyakhire of Ogwa Kingdom, Chief Sylvester Eronmhon Ogobor spoke at the palace of Victor Agbonmenre Ehizogie II, the Onogie of Ogwa in Esan West local government Area of Edo State at this year’s two-week  yearly festival held in commemoration of the ancestors of the community last week.

    Chief Ogobor, who highlighted the negative effects of cultural imperialism to include high rate of crime and social vices, said abandoning African culture and heritage is one of the factors militating against unity and growth of Africans.

    He urged Nigerians, especially the youth, to embrace hardwork, eschew tribal sectional sentiment and be God fearing in their relations with fellow human beings in order to ensure the growth of the nation.

    On leadership, Chief Ogobor who is a ‘born again’ Christian, said a leader should lead unmindful of personal costs, adding that eternal life is better than what people see as priority at the moment.

    The Onogie of Ogwa, His Royal Highness,Ehizogie II said he was impressed with the level of progress of the  celebration had attracted to the town, especially the employment opportunities that had come to the community, urging the people to do more by assisting each or other in the promotion and propagation of African culture.

    The monarch observed that the selection of February for the big Ogwa festival was based on the traditional rites of the town which cannot be amended.

    On the Ogwa Community’s development, the traditional ruler noted the take-off of the Samuel Adegboyega University, owned by The Apostolic Church, which has increased economic activities as well as the number of employed residents in the community.

    The  festival featured Ihuen, Iganede, New Yam, Age grade initiation ceremonies of Eha, Eguare, Izogen and Ukpogo that lasted between 18 and 24 hours.

  • Edo community cries out over abandoned health centre

    Edo community cries out over abandoned health centre

    There was so much joy and hope among inhabitants of Avbiama community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State in 2013, when local authorities, with the support of an international agency, commenced the construction of a health centre in the rural community. The people saw the development as the answer to their prayer for an accessible and affordable health care.

    Two years on, the health facility has been completed, but unfortunately, it has also been abandoned. A visit by Niger Delta Report to the area and premises of the centre revealed a place overtaken by weeds and providing shelter for rodents and insects of various types.

    Instead of the reachable and inexpensive healthcare the residents of the Avbiama dreamt of when construction of the centre commenced, they still have to travel to Central Hospital in Benin City, the state capital for their health needs. Their sojourn in search of medical aid is even made more arduous my the deplorable state of the road leading to the community.

    Our reporter could not gain entrance to the now abandoned health centre because of overgrown weeds and fear of snakes and other dangerous living things that could be lurking within the bushy building.

    Chairman of Avbiama Community Development Association, Sunday Obazee, told our reporter that the hospital was well equipped after its completion, but lamented that there were no medical personnel employed by the local councils to man them.

    “There is a well-equipped primary health centre, but no staff. We go to Benin to get good health care. The place was built two years ago and it has been locked up since. We don’t know why they did not make it operational. We have been to local council and they said they don’t have fund to make it operational.

    “We clear the bush all the time hoping they would come and make it operational but nothing has been forthcoming.”

    More worrisome for Sunday and inhabitants of the community in their quests to seek health and other assistance outside their space is the deplorable state of the roads leading to the community.

    The roads, according to Sunday, were worsened following heavy duty lorries a Chinese firm are using to collect clay from burrow pits in the community.

    Ironically, the clay which the firm, Time Ceramics Company, uses for production of tiles and ceramic plates, was seen as waste products from the burrow pits.

    Sunday said they stopped the firm from collecting clay from the burrow pits because the firm refuses to contribute money towards repair of the road.

    His words, “Before now, the road was being managed until the Chinese firm came and started collecting clay as their raw material from this community. They contributed to the present bad state of the road. The company is sited at Utesi village. They only come here for their raw materials. We stopped them from coming because the man that owns the pit they were they collecting the materials from did not contribute anything to the repairs of the road. We just did not want them to worsen the road situation more than they have done, so we decided to stop them.”

    Sunday denied widespread report that N10m was paid to the community by the Chinese firm, insisting that nothing was paid to the community. He said the leaders of the Avbiama were surprised to see lorries carting away clay without informing the community leaders and the traditional of the source of their authority to do so.

    “We don’t actually see the use of clay as any raw materials. We used to see the clay as a waste product from the pit. To my understanding, they said they are using it for ceramics. We expect that the company to pay stipend for the road repairs.

    “We want government to repair this road. Two years ago, NDDC said they have awarded this road. They brought bulldozers and all of a sudden they stopped. We have been to their office and they kept telling us they would return to site. There is only one transformer providing electricity for this community and it has been overloaded.”

    It was difficult for our reporter to get the views of Time Ceramics as the spokesman of the firm was said to be sleeping when our reporter visited the company.

     

     

     

  • Edo community where poor, helpless kids get food

    It is meal time at a camp run by the International Christian Centre for Mission. Children dressed in tattered clothes lined their plates on the ground for the food to be served. After meal is served, the children sat in clusters while some took to under trees to savour the food containing bits of fish.

    Welcome to Uhogua, host community for the camp now housing 1,300 supposedly homeless individuals including children. Among residents in the camp are victims displaced by the Boko Haram attacks in Borno State.

    Inside the camp is a school attended by the children in their rags-like clothing. It is on an expansive land and some of the wooden structures are being replaced with block buildings. Many of the children looked sickly.

    The classrooms provided for teaching are untidy and small. Many of the children stay outside and learn from the window.

    According to the camp founder, Solomon Folorunsho, there were 400 persons being cared for at the camp before another 900 were brought in from the North East.

    He explained, “This centre is a place for mission work and discipleship and also to care for children who are in need from different parts of Nigeria. We ?have been in existence since 1992, catering for children from different villages who have been abused, oppressed and are orphans in the society.

    “We had about 400 children before we saw the need of children in the North East, whose parents were killed. Some of them ran to the mountains where they ate sand, stones and leaves. And there were some who started dying of malnutrition disease.”

    However, statements from some of the children who spoke to our reporter countered claims by Pastor Solomon. They said they were not orphans and that their parents are alive and living in Nigeria.

    One claimed that his father was told that Pastor Solomon was catering for children’s education and well-being which was why his father brought him there.

    John Wani said, “They tell my father that Pastor Solomon want to help children. They told my father to bring me. My parents are in Maiduguri, they are not doing anything.

    To Matthias who said he hails from Borgu, “My father is in Abuja. I came here to school.”

    A girl who gave her name as Martha said she hails from Kebbi State and that her village was not attacked by Boko Haram.

    “I came here for somethings like food, water and school. My parents are in Kebbi. I left because of school. My village was not attacked by Boko Haram.”

    Two little girls who were seen eating under a flower said they were four siblings in the camp.

    According to one of them, “I am five years old. I am in nursery two. My father is in Maiduguri.”

    John who hails from Maiduguri said, “I come to school here. Nothing happens.”

    David from Chibok said he left because of Boko Haram killings. “My parents are in Chibok. I come because of school.”

    On his part, David Moses said his relatives are in a camp in Taraba State but that they hail from Gworza. “I was in school when Boko Haram attacked our village. We are three in this camp. Seven of my siblings are in Taraba. I hear that Pastor want to help those who are not in school. That is why I am here.”

    To Pastor Solomon, “Some of them ran to Cameroon and I started getting phone calls there that we from the South here should help to rescue these children, as they were just wandering in the streets. That was what prompted us to set up a committee of pastors who located the children and brought them together to verify their identity.”

    “We have orphans and vulnerable children from other parts of Nigeria. I am a Christian. I grew up as a sick child and was a punching bag. I am a Nigerian and cannot fold my hands to see people suffering. We felt as Christians, we should do our little bits.”

    On how he relates with children who are Moslems, Pastor Solomon said he does not know whether there are any Moslems among the children.

    He said he has 89 support staff at the camp who are on pay roll.

    Several groups and individuals have started donating items to support the children.

    Several groups and individuals have started donating items to support the children.

    A former official of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Mr. Greg Abonoga volunteered one of his daughters to help teach morals aspect to the children.

    Mr. Greg joined the children on Sunday service and played music for them.

  • Oil spill destroys 2,000 hectares in Edo community

    Over 2,000 hectares of farmland have been destroyed by oil spill that occurred at Umoghunnokhua in Orhionmwon local government area of Edo State.

    A member of the community, Mike Eghaghe, stated this when he led the state Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Barr. Isimeme Irogbe, to inspect the site of the spillage.

    Eghaghe said the spill has affected the fortunes of farmers in the community.

    The Commissioner on his part assured the people that adequate compensation would be paid for the damage caused by the oil spill to their community.

     

  • Edo community faults N800m Okpella Water Scheme

    Edo community faults N800m Okpella Water Scheme

    Residents of over 100 villages in Okpella clan in Estako East Local Government Area of Edo State are still waiting for water from the Okpella Water scheme after a progress report by President Goodluck Jonathan showed that N800m has been expended to complete the project whose initial cost was N263m. What has further heightening the people’s fear is the alleged sales of equipment supplied by the contractors. Our reporter, Osagie Otabor, who visited the community, reports.

    The Okpella water scheme is listed on page 126 of the publication titled Sure and Steady Transformation: Progress Report of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration. The Jonathan administration claimed it has completed the N800m project and listed it under ongoing projects of the Ministry of Water Resources. It reads, ‘Completion of Okpella Water Supply Scheme, Edo State-N800m.

    Niger Delta Report’s  check showed that the publication was from the office of the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas.

    Okpella clan is a border town between Edo and Kogi states. It sits atop several solid minerals, especially limestone. The huge deposits of limestone led to the establishment of the Edo Cement Factory that later become moribund but is now owned by the BUA Groups.

    The Okpella Water Scheme according to documents NDR obtained was supposed to be completed within six months after it was awarded in December 1998 at a cost of N346m by the Petroleum Trust Fund. A letter to the Military Administrator of Edo State and signed by Secretary to the Petroleum Trust Fund, late Chief Tayo Akpata, showed that the project was awarded in four lots to four different contractors.

    Messes Rotary Group Limited was awarded lot one which included Pipeline Network, Treatment and building of Pump house. Messrs SIBGA Services Limited was to supply the Generator and Power Supply. The elevated tanks were to be done by Messrs Johnson Steel Company while Messrs Galcon Engineering Company was awarded the contract to handle the civil works.

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party led government under Gen Olusegun Obasanjo scrapped the PTF in 1999 and the Okpella Water Scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Water Resources.

    Checks showed that all the materials for the project including water supply pipes, pipes accessories and fittings, pumping machines, standby generator and transformer were supplied and the raw water house built. Tanks were also elevated.

    When our reporter visited Okpella last week, the transformer and power generator supplied by the contractor were seen at the palace of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, HRH Andrew Yusuf Dirisu. It was learnt that the traditional ruler took in the transformers and generator to avoid them being stolen.

    Managing Director of Rotary Group, Alhaji Ja’faru Nuhu, in a chat with our reporter said the project would have been completed within the stipulated time if President Obasanjo had not stopped all PTF projects and transferred them to the Ministry.

    Ja’faru said he was owed a balance of N77m needed to complete the project which was at 60% completion stage when PTF was scrapped. He said he wrote to the Ministry of Water Resources in 2009 on the need to pay the balance for the project to continue but was not paid.

    According to him, “We were to start laying the pipes when Obasanjo stopped the project. Since then nobody has talked anything about it. I would have completed the project if the balance N77m were paid. I have been going to the Ministry for the past 15 years and no response.”

    “In 2011, the project was reviewed upward to N789m but no money was released. I was surprised when we saw a publication that the project has been completed. We went to the ministry and they told us it was a mistake.”

    “You can imagine the price of dollar to the naira now and many of the things we supplied have been stolen. I was told that N150m meant for the project is in the 2015 budget; but whether that money will come out is another thing.”

    Vice Presidential Candidate of Action Alliance, Comrade Ishaka Paul Ofeimile, who led other community members on a tour to the project site said the only thing done by the Jonathan presidency was to review the contract upward to N800m.

    Comrade Ishaka said more than 200 trailers were used to supply equipment to site only for one Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim to show up in 2008 and start removing the pipes and accessories with a claim that they were sold to him.

    According to him, “This is the source of water for Okpella water scheme, it used to be the quarry site for Bendel Cement Company now BUA group. Their activities resulted to the coming of this water. All year round there is water here. It is like a water table. This is where to get water to be supplied to the whole of Okpella. Even though mining activities is still on, it will not stop this flow instead more water will come out. During the rainy season it becomes dangerous to come here. They have built the pumping house. The only thing they have done is to supply the equipment. They have brought everything including the tanks, pipes, generator, and transformers. The tanks they installed in some places have been vandalized.

    “Unfortunately since 2008, one auctioneer, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubarkar has been taking the pipes away. He claimed that they were sold to him. He comes here with soldiers and police and they start loading with cranes. In 2010, he removed nine fully loaded trailers of the pipes. We took him to the police headquarters but showed up two weeks ago and he brought armed soldiers. A retired soldier in this community stopped him. Our worry is that we don’t know who he said sold the pipes to him. The people he claimed sold the pipes to him have denied. Who is giving him power to sell the pipes we don’t know.”

    “In 2010, when we saw that this project has been completed for N800m, we went to Abuja to see the Minister. A director in the ministry said it was an on-going project. The director said they would soon mobilize the contractor. The only thing the federal government has done is to review this contract to N800m which needed only N77m to complete in 2001. Even after the revaluation not one kobo has been given to the contractor. If you see the progress report of President Jonathan, it is saying that N800m has been spent to complete this project. This project that has been lying fallow since 2001. This is a big fraud. We don’t know who collected the money.”

    Chief Peter Ikiedeme Okun, the village head of Iyeshun in Okpella said the project was abandoned because of corruption at the highest peak of governance in the country. He said forged documents were presented to enable them cart away materials meant for the water project. The treatment to Okpella is not good. It is unprecedented.”

    The Okuokpellagbe of Okpella said, “There is no water supply from the Okpella Water Scheme. We saw the publication and we went to Abuja. Nobody claimed to be aware of the author of the publication. It is clear the project is an ongoing project. It is not completed and there is no where N800m was spent.”

    “The dam is supposed to provide water for the entire Ukpilla community. We get water now from individual boreholes and from good stream. The Federal Government should expedite action to make sure contractor comes to site and complete this project.”

    President of the Okpella Youths, Otarru Gospel, accused some elders of the community of conniving with external factors to sell the materials meant for the water project.

    “There is no water in Okpella. We only a publication that water has been provided for Okpella. We saw where former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said that our water project has been completed and paid for.”

     

    esidents of over 100 villages in Okpella clan in Estako East Local Government Area of Edo State are still waiting for water from the Okpella Water scheme after a progress report by President Goodluck Jonathan showed that N800m has been expended to complete the project whose initial cost was N263m. What has further heightening the people’s fear is the alleged sales of equipment supplied by the contractors. Our reporter, Osagie Otabor, who visited the community, reports.

    The Okpella water scheme is listed on page 126 of the publication titled Sure and Steady Transformation: Progress Report of President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration. The Jonathan administration claimed it has completed the N800m project and listed it under ongoing projects of the Ministry of Water Resources. It reads, ‘Completion of Okpella Water Supply Scheme, Edo State-N800m.

    Niger Delta Report’s  check showed that the publication was from the office of the Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Research, Documentation and Strategy, Oronto Douglas.

    Okpella clan is a border town between Edo and Kogi states. It sits atop several solid minerals, especially limestone. The huge deposits of limestone led to the establishment of the Edo Cement Factory that later become moribund but is now owned by the BUA Groups.

    The Okpella Water Scheme according to documents NDR obtained was supposed to be completed within six months after it was awarded in December 1998 at a cost of N346m by the Petroleum Trust Fund. A letter to the Military Administrator of Edo State and signed by Secretary to the Petroleum Trust Fund, late Chief Tayo Akpata, showed that the project was awarded in four lots to four different contractors.

    Messes Rotary Group Limited was awarded lot one which included Pipeline Network, Treatment and building of Pump house. Messrs SIBGA Services Limited was to supply the Generator and Power Supply. The elevated tanks were to be done by Messrs Johnson Steel Company while Messrs Galcon Engineering Company was awarded the contract to handle the civil works.

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party led government under Gen Olusegun Obasanjo scrapped the PTF in 1999 and the Okpella Water Scheme was transferred to the Ministry of Water Resources.

    Checks showed that all the materials for the project including water supply pipes, pipes accessories and fittings, pumping machines, standby generator and transformer were supplied and the raw water house built. Tanks were also elevated.

    When our reporter visited Okpella last week, the transformer and power generator supplied by the contractor were seen at the palace of the Okuokpellagbe of Okpella, HRH Andrew Yusuf Dirisu. It was learnt that the traditional ruler took in the transformers and generator to avoid them being stolen.

    Managing Director of Rotary Group, Alhaji Ja’faru Nuhu, in a chat with our reporter said the project would have been completed within the stipulated time if President Obasanjo had not stopped all PTF projects and transferred them to the Ministry.

    Ja’faru said he was owed a balance of N77m needed to complete the project which was at 60% completion stage when PTF was scrapped. He said he wrote to the Ministry of Water Resources in 2009 on the need to pay the balance for the project to continue but was not paid.

    According to him, “We were to start laying the pipes when Obasanjo stopped the project. Since then nobody has talked anything about it. I would have completed the project if the balance N77m were paid. I have been going to the Ministry for the past 15 years and no response.”

    “In 2011, the project was reviewed upward to N789m but no money was released. I was surprised when we saw a publication that the project has been completed. We went to the ministry and they told us it was a mistake.”

    “You can imagine the price of dollar to the naira now and many of the things we supplied have been stolen. I was told that N150m meant for the project is in the 2015 budget; but whether that money will come out is another thing.”

    Vice Presidential Candidate of Action Alliance, Comrade Ishaka Paul Ofeimile, who led other community members on a tour to the project site said the only thing done by the Jonathan presidency was to review the contract upward to N800m.

    Comrade Ishaka said more than 200 trailers were used to supply equipment to site only for one Alhaji Abubakar Ibrahim to show up in 2008 and start removing the pipes and accessories with a claim that they were sold to him.

    According to him, “This is the source of water for Okpella water scheme, it used to be the quarry site for Bendel Cement Company now BUA group. Their activities resulted to the coming of this water. All year round there is water here. It is like a water table. This is where to get water to be supplied to the whole of Okpella. Even though mining activities is still on, it will not stop this flow instead more water will come out. During the rainy season it becomes dangerous to come here. They have built the pumping house. The only thing they have done is to supply the equipment. They have brought everything including the tanks, pipes, generator, and transformers. The tanks they installed in some places have been vandalized.

    “Unfortunately since 2008, one auctioneer, Alhaji Ibrahim Abubarkar has been taking the pipes away. He claimed that they were sold to him. He comes here with soldiers and police and they start loading with cranes. In 2010, he removed nine fully loaded trailers of the pipes. We took him to the police headquarters but showed up two weeks ago and he brought armed soldiers. A retired soldier in this community stopped him. Our worry is that we don’t know who he said sold the pipes to him. The people he claimed sold the pipes to him have denied. Who is giving him power to sell the pipes we don’t know.”

    “In 2010, when we saw that this project has been completed for N800m, we went to Abuja to see the Minister. A director in the ministry said it was an on-going project. The director said they would soon mobilize the contractor. The only thing the federal government has done is to review this contract to N800m which needed only N77m to complete in 2001. Even after the revaluation not one kobo has been given to the contractor. If you see the progress report of President Jonathan, it is saying that N800m has been spent to complete this project. This project that has been lying fallow since 2001. This is a big fraud. We don’t know who collected the money.”

    Chief Peter Ikiedeme Okun, the village head of Iyeshun in Okpella said the project was abandoned because of corruption at the highest peak of governance in the country. He said forged documents were presented to enable them cart away materials meant for the water project. The treatment to Okpella is not good. It is unprecedented.”

    The Okuokpellagbe of Okpella said, “There is no water supply from the Okpella Water Scheme. We saw the publication and we went to Abuja. Nobody claimed to be aware of the author of the publication. It is clear the project is an ongoing project. It is not completed and there is no where N800m was spent.”

    “The dam is supposed to provide water for the entire Ukpilla community. We get water now from individual boreholes and from good stream. The Federal Government should expedite action to make sure contractor comes to site and complete this project.”

    President of the Okpella Youths, Otarru Gospel, accused some elders of the community of conniving with external factors to sell the materials meant for the water project.

    “There is no water in Okpella. We only a publication that water has been provided for Okpella. We saw where former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, said that our water project has been completed and paid for.”

     

  • Lawmaker lights up Edo community

    Lawmaker lights up Edo community

    An electricty project inaugurate by Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has brought enormous joy to the agrarian community of Omorodion in Ovia South West Local Government Area of the state.

    The project, facilitated by Hon Isaac Osahon, a member of the House of Representatives, literally lit up the community.

    The journey to the village was tiresome, for the road is not properly graded. The villagers, mainly farmers, had been out of the national grid for many years.

    But majority of them, including children, women and the elderly, abandoned their farms, put on their best clothes and brought out their drums to welcome the governor and government functionaries who attended the inauguration.   The transformation of the village was automatic. Many residents brought out electrical appliances as a sign of change in status.

    Those who spoke said they were happy about the electricity project as it would enable them to preserve their farm produce.

    The people also got more than the transformer, as many were given grinding machines and motorcycles, among other employment aids.

    Head of the community, Mustapha Owolabi who spoke on behalf of the community, said they were in darkness for many years, describing the project as the “best gift ever”.

    Owolabi called on the government to pave roads leading to the community as well as provide a polling centre in the village.

    The chairman of Usen Community Development Association, Christopher Uhuangho said the community had been poorly represented over the years by successive government.

    Other projects inaugurated by the lawmaker included provision of solar street lights at Usen and construction of a community hall at Ekiadolor. A total of 30 motor-cycles and 46 grinding machines were distributed to some persons while N5m was given to 50 indigents to enable them start small scale businesses.

    Hon Osahon said his motivation to empower the people was in recognition of their loyalty and hardworking disposition to the party and compliment effort at delivering dividends of democracy.

    He listed other on-going projects to include construction of a 20 metre bridge across Egboha river in ward 2 in Ovia South West, solar street lighting at Iguobazuwa  and Udo township and boreholes across six communities.

    According to him, “You voted for me to represent you and I will do my best to provide what is expected of me. All we need is your support for our party, the APC to grow strong.”

    Governor Oshiomhole who was represented by Commissioner for Oil and Gas, Orobosa Omo-Ojo warned those given motor-cycles to stay clear from local governments were the use of motor-cycles were banned.

    The governor said any motor-cycle apprehended would be crushed and advised the beneficiaries not to be tempted to sell the grinding machines or use the N100,000 for other purposes other than businesses.     ‘

    He promised the people that their demands would be looked into.

     

  • Crisis looms in Edo community over farmland

    A 6,000 hectares of farmland that was supposed to create jobs as well as boost food production in the country has become a source of conflict between Agbede community and a company, the Delt-R Farms that supposedly bought the land. Osagie Otabor reports.

    Youths and leaders of Agbede community in Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State are spoiling for war. They have vowed to resist any attempt by a company, Delt-R Farms, to evacuate them from over 3,000 hectares of the land they are cultivating for farming.

    Tension was heightened over alleged plans by Delt-R to sell the farmland to another investor. The road leading to the farmland is being graded and a new billboard was recently erected.

    The farmland popularly known as the Agbede/Warrake farms was established by the military administration of Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia in 1971 in the defunct Midwest Region. It was equipped with mechanised farming facilities, an air-strip, workshop, weigh bridge, silos, harvesters, tractors amongst others.

    It started as Midwest Farm Settlement and later became Bendel Food Production Board. A German firm took over its management before the military administration of Colonel John Inienger sold it to Delt-R Farms for N3 million.

    Delt-R was to, among other conditions, pay an annual rent of N67,034, maintain existing infrastructures in the land as well as not leave it fallow for a period exceeding six months at any time or eight months in a year.

    It was expected to use the land solely for agric purposes and not erect any building other than those covenanted to be erected by virtue of the certificate of occupancy.

    A recent visit to the farm showed that the villagers have cultivated large portion of the land, built up some parts and were preparing other parts for the new farming season.

    The administrative building of the farm was dilapidated and overgrown by weeds. There was only one harvester and three tractors.

    Head of Aviele Vigilante Squad, Isah Yahaya, who took our reporter on a tour of the farm, said the villagers started the land grab after the company failed to cultivate the land since it bought it. He said the land was meant to be cultivated to provide jobs and food for Agbede and other villages around.

    He alleged that no recompense was paid for the acquisition of the land, adding that its long abandonment made the villagers to start farming on the land.

    “Where will these people go? The farm was moving fine then. Whatever you think of, maize, cocoa, water melon and other crops were produced there.”

    Documents obtained by our reporter showed that in 2007, an Aviele clan head and the Oba of Agbede, HRH Alhaji M. S Momoh wrote to the state government informing it that farming activities stopped on the farmland.

    The letter noted that “the land is the only mineral wealth of the community. Agbede clan should not be allowed to suffer in the midst of their untapped natural resources. The community has been putting up with this hardship for almost two decades and signs of youth and community agitations over this avoidable waste are evident in this clan.”

    In another letter dated 14th January, 2008, the Oba sought to know if the Agbede farmland was listed as a property under the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

    The Oba, in the letter, said they were prepared to utilise the farmland to enhance the community’s economic growth, adding ‘the land is wasting away.’

    The state government, in its January 28, 2008 reply, said the retrieval process of the Agbede farmland from its present owners was being addressed, promising “efforts will be made to ensure that the Agbede Farm project is committed to productive use again as soon as possible.”

    In February 2008, Oba Momoh ordered the management of Delt-R Farms to remove all movable machinery from the farmland as the community was prepared to take over the farmland from March that year.

    He advised Delt-R to stay away from the farmland for the purpose of peace, stating, “your negative activities have killed the economic and social development of Aviele community and have aggravated wild-spread unemployment of our people.”

    In 2011, the Edo State House of Assembly stepped in following a petition by Mr. Sylvanus Oninkena on behalf of the community.

    The lawmakers asked the state government to revoke the instrument of sales including C-of-O and Deeds of Assignment to Delt-R Nigeria Limited for failure to abide by the terms of agreement.

    It also urged the government to take possession of the farms, adding that all serviceable machinery including tractors, harvesters removed by the firm should be recovered.

    The member representing Agbede in the House of Assembly, Hon Abdul-Razak Momoh, in an interview with The Nation, said Delt-R bought the farm for speculative purposes and not for farming.

    He said investigation had shown that Delt-R was asking for $6.6m from an investor who wanted to acquire the farmland.

    He said:“When the House of Assembly committee went there, they met about five harvesters and tractors but when we went there, we met only three. Part of the condition was that the land should not be left without cultivation. They have not cultivated that place for the past 20 years. The infrastructure they met there has been stripped.”

    The lawmaker said the path for peace and avoidance of legal tussle was for the state government to honour the resolution of the House of Assembly.

    Commissioner for Agriculture, Abdul Oroh said: “When you go there now, you would weep. There used to be an airstrip. Plane could land there. There were good mechanised equipment at that time.”

    He explained that the company it over obtained a loan from the bank and there was a foreclosure to recover the loan, which led the farm being sold to another investor.

    “If there is another investor, the community should tell us. If any investor comes, we will refer them to the owner of the farm for discussion,” Oroh added.

    He said the government would resolve the issue this year.

    Investigation showed that several investors have indicated interest to buy the farmland in pieces. Some are demanding 500 hectares for cassava farms, others are demanding 2,000 hectares for rice cultivation and other crops.

    Management of the Delt-R Farms could not be reached for comments.