IKOHA – (OVIA-SOUTH WEST) – No fewer than thirty Yoruba settlers in Agbonbayemwen in Ikoha community, Ovia-south West Local government area received cheques worth over thirty million naira from AgriPalm limited, a subsidiary of Flour Mills Nigeria plc as Pay-off/disengagement of farmers in the area.
Handing over the cheques to the beneficiaries, Director of Agric Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Edo State, Mr. Erhunmwonsere Sunday who represented the Permanent Secretary, said the gesture was to ensure that the beneficiaries who were mostly small holders farmers were adequately compensated to enable them continue their agricultural businesses in their new locations unhindered.
He noted that the gesture was in line with Governor Godwin Obaseki led administration’s vision towards empowering the rural dwellers, particularly in the area of agriculture with a view to ensuring food surplus in the state.
In his speech, the Farm Manager, Mr. Herman Smith, said it was earlier discovered that there was an agreement between Agbonbayemwen settlement and the then Enogie of Siluko, HRH Omoregie Akenzua, Odionwere and elders of Ikoha community permitting the use of the land for farming by the Yoruba settlers.
Smith pointed out that upon the arrival of the land possessors, A & Hatman Ltd, the then Enogie undertook the relocation of the Agbonbayemwen farmers to the Ofosu Forest Reserve which was acquired from the Edo state government with survey No: SLC20.
According to him, in view of easing the farmers relocation to their new area, A & Hatman paid some compensation to the farmers.
He further stated that immediately AgriPalm took over the land lease possession from A & Hatman in 2013, the decision to develop the area was reached and a nursery was developed to plant all parts of the plantation with a view to keying into the State governnent’s vision on oil Palm development strategy where greater job opportunities will be available for Edo people.
He said, “In order to fully achieve this, the management took the humane and bold decision to pay some ex-gratia to the aggrieved farmers. All aggrieved farmers who had not benefited from the two previously paid compensations and had collected and submitted claims form are today (Thursday) having their grievances addressed positively”.
He however, thanked the Enogie of Siluko, HRH Aiguobasinmwin Omoregie Akenzua, Odionwere and elders of Ikoha community for their support and cooperation throughout the negotiation periods.
The Enogie of Siluko Dukedom, HRH Aiguobasinmwin Omoregie Akenzua represented by Hon. Monday Aighobahi commended the management of AgriPalm for the gesture and admonished the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money.
On his part, the leader of Sule Camp and spokesman for the beneficiaries, Adeboye Kazeem expressed happiness over the gesture and prayed for the company’s continuous growth.
