Nasarawa State House of Assembly Joint Committee on Land and Public Complaints, Petitions and Security, has urged the state Government to suspend the proposed acquisition of 10,000 hectares of land to SaroAfrica International Limited for processing of Sugar Value Chain.
Mr Emmanuel Manding, Chairman, Joint Committee, stated this at a meeting with the Ministry of Land and Urban Development and Nasarawa Investment and Development Agency ( NASIDA) on Wednesday in Lafia.
Others are the management of Ekye Development Area and other community leaders of Ekye Development Area
and Nasarawa Geographic Information Service ( NAGIS)
Manding said that the invitation extended to them is to get information on the alleged acquisition of 10000 hectares of land in the area by the state government.
He urged them to avail the committee with all the necessary information that would help the committee in its assignment.
Mr Luka Iliya Zhekaba, the Co- Chairman of the Joint Committee and Chairman, House Committee on Public Complaints, Petitions and Security, also called for suspension of the acquisition of the land until conclusion of investigation by the committee.
“We have asked the Ministry of Land, NASIDA and all those involved or concern to stay off until the conclusion of our investigation and we will submit our reports to the House.
” It was on Monday, Sept. 24 that a matter of Public Interest on the alleged acquisition of 10000 hectares of land in Agbashi Ekye Development Area was raised by their representative, Mr Ibrahim Abubakar.
” After extensive deliberation by members, a resolution was reached and the Speaker has directed the joint committee to investigate the matter by inviting all those concern, hence the need of the invitation
” In the course of our findings, we were made to understand that they are still in the process of acquiring the land,” he said
Zhekaba said that the livelihood of the people of Agbashi is farming and if this land is sold, where will they go to farm and feed their family and pay school fees of their children.
Members of the committee who spoke against the issue, said that they would only support anything that would bring development to the state.
They recalled however how the people of Awe, Toto among others became slaves in their own land as well as begging investors for land to farm.
On his part, Mr Ibrahim Mulki, the State Commissioner for Land, said that the state government through the ministry has not acquired any land in Agbashi, Ekye Development Are Local Government Area.
He said that on Dec.8, 2021, the ministry was in receipt of a letter from NASIDA requesting for identification and allocation of a suitable land of about 10,000.
He said the request for land for the development of Sugarcane Value chain by SaroAfrica International Limited.
” This request by NASIDA was done after due diligent on the company and discovered that the company planned to invest N20 billion dollars on processing value chain, with targeted sugar production of 200,000 metric tons per annum,” he said
The commissioner told the committee that the ministry held a meeting with traditional rulers and other stakeholders on the proposed site.
The commissioner said that a sample of the said land was collected on the Sept.17, for testing.
Mulki said that no acquisition can take place without the consent of the community.
” We are mindful of this and are very determined to ensure that all acquisition are done in line with global best practices and in the interest of local communities,” he said
Bello Akoza, the Overseer of Ekye Development Area and Mr Louis Azige of NASIDA, representing NASIDA Managing Director acknowledged approved from the governor for the acquisition of the said land.
They said that several meetings were held with traditional rulers and other critical stakeholders of the community for the acquisition of the said land.
On his part, Mr Danchor Elisha, Head of NAGIS, Lafia Office, said the agency has no knowledge of the said land acquisition and has not received any communication from the state government to that effect.( NAN).
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