Land Encroachment Allegation: Doma LG Chairman Directs Olam Rice Farm To Stop Work
By Rabiu Omaku, Lafia
The Executive Chairman of Doma Local Government, Hon. Jonathan Okuba Addra, has told the largest rice farm in Africa, Olam rice farm, to stop work in the controversial land said to belong to Otiya community.
The Chairman at the end of an extensive meeting between the top management of Olam Rice Farm situated at Rukubu,Ijiwo communities , told Olam rice Farm top management to stop further work pending the outcome of the one week assignment given to representatives of the affected communities.
Jonathan Okuba Addra who read the resolution without any stakeholders from the three communities contested to the resolution,
He directed Olam to stop work in the meantime pending findings by the stakeholders of Ijiwo and Otiya to know the clear demarcation between the two communities.
“All work on the disputed land will cease immediately until the demarcation process is complete, said the local government chairman.
“The boundary demarcation of the three communities involved will ascertain their boundaries,and the report will be submitted to His Royal Highness, the Osakpa of Akpanaja, Alhaji. Musa Abari Agye,” he said.
The Hon.Chairman warned youth of Otiya and other communities to shun the humiliation of staff of Olam Rice Farm whatsoever.
“When the Chief Agronomist of the farm, Dr Umar called me he told me that youth from Otiya kidnapped their operator in the bush, saying anybody that involved himself in such a dastardly act would face the full wrath of the law.
He however expressed gratitude to all attendees for their participation despite short notice.
The immediate past Nasarawa State Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Issac Edu, were among those that held a meeting with Olam rice Farm Limited.
During his presentation which lasted for 30 minutes, he described the deal as a monumental blunder, adding that Ijiwo community would rescind the agreement which he noted was faulty and would not favour his people.
“The land that was leased to Olam was to the tune of N20 million for the past eleven years, He however explained that Olam was able to pay money to the tune of N17 million remaining balance of N3 million.
He further buttressed that the people of Ijiwo in those days give Otiya the land they are occupying today because of the relationship that exist between them.
“Our elders says, Ijiwo give part of our land to Oda Go Ode due to the mutual understanding between the sisters community, That is Ijiwo and Otiya”.
Issac Edu also revealed that the Chief Agronomist to Olam Farm, Dr Umar informed him that the people of Otiya kidnapped one of their operators working in the bush as he faulted the multi-national company of trespassing their boundary.
“There was a request made by the community that they would refund the N17,000,000.00m back to Olam rice Farm but Dr Umar during the meeting said that the company turn down the request.
“10,000 hectares was given to them in 1986 in Rukubi with additional 2,713 hectares at just a paltry N20,000,000.00m,” he said.
Elder Mohammadu Ikushunta,with a traditional title of Ginda’u drew the attention of Olam Rice Farm that Ijiwo lease their land to them but did not sell any land to Olam.
The Chief Agronomist, Dr Umar during his submission presented useful documents of all the deals with the host communities, stating that the company is operating in more than sixty countries without having any issues.
He however explained that in his document presented to the Executive Chairman of Doma Local Government, there was a list of names of those that signed the deal years back.
According to him, ” M. I Adih was a signatory to the document dated June 2013; also Dr. Musa Ogah late; the Osaka of Akpanaja, Alhaji Musa Abari Agye as well the then Solicitor General, Isaac Edu.
So Olam rice Farm was issued Certificate of Occupancy on 14/September/2014″.
Also speaking was the paramount Ruler of Akpanaja, The Osaka of Akpanaja, His Royal Highness, Alhaji. Musa Abari Agye who applauded the local government chairman for calling the meeting of critical stakeholders in the warring communities of Doma South.
“As a monarch from that axis , I’m not aware of those issues if not today,” he said, appealing to both communities of Ijiwo and Otiya to go back home and settle their differences by tracing the original borders”.
The Divisional Police Officer of Doma Local Lovernment who represented his counterpart from Doma, ASP.Balarabe urged the people to avoid anything that might cause untold hardship to the people of Otiya and the surrounding communities.
Also the representative of the secret police appreciated the Chairman for his swift intervention in addressing the situation.
A member of the delegation from Ijiwo, Mr Vincent Ijiwo in his contribution said three people each were selected from Ijiwo, Otiya, Anna Go Gah, Agirma and Rukubi and in 2014 the committee accepted the offer.
The representative of the palace of the Chairman, Council of Chiefs, His Royal Highness, the Andoma of Doma and the Secretary to Andoma, Musa Addra thanked the local government chairman for the holistic measure taken to avert future occurrence of such a regrettable situation.
