Edo State Government has assured that all illegally acquired farmlands by some companies in the state would be revoked
The state deputy governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, who gave the assurance in Benin in Thursday when he received members of the Association of Cocoa Farmers, said that some of the farmlands were acquired through proxies.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor assured that due process would be followed at retrieving such lands back to the owners.
He particularly commended members of the association from Ovia South-West and Ovia North-East Local Government Areas of the state for being law-abiding in spite of the seeming challenges.
Idahosa reaffirmed the campaign promise of Governor Monday Okpebholo to farmers, maintaining that their welfare was of topmost priority to the government.
This was just as he reminded them that having campaigned in the 18 local government areas of the state, the governor was aware of farmers’ socio-economic contributions to their local government areas and the state in general.
He stated that by paying their taxes regularly to the state government, nobody would be able to take away their lands and due dividends.
Idahosa highlighted that the government was putting things in place to minimise farmer/herders clashes as well as doing everything possible to make sure the lives of its citizens are secured.
Earlier, the cocoa farmers led by Mr. Bello Osaretin had alleged some civil servants from the ministry of agriculture and food security of conniving with some Chinese to sell the Ohosu and Okomu forest reserve.
He claimed that over 40 major communities presently occupied by farmers in Ovia South West, would no longer be in existence if did present administration failed to intervene.
