OGFTZ Debunks Media Reports Of Forceful Takeover Of Family Lands
The Ogun-Guadong Free Trade Zone Limited, OGFTZ, has come out to deny and debunk several Media Reports alleging forceful take over of 158 hectares of land belonging to 13 indigent families in Igbesa, describing the reports as misleading, malicious that are riddled in falsehoods, distortions and outright misinformation.
The organisation debunked the reports at a press conference on Thursday where Alhaji Kabiru Ajayi, the Senior Special Assistant to Hadjia Hafsat Tafawa-Balewa Oduwole , Chairman of the Company's Board of Directors clarified that fundamentally the Chinese partners in Free Trade Zone have nothing to do with the issue of land purchases nor acquisition, so cannot be accused of forceful takeover of land.
He further explained that the land in question is taken from the 8000 hectares acquired for the Ogun Property Investment Company, OPIC, by the State Government over two decades ago and 2000.407 hectares given to the Ogun-Guadong Free Trade Zone as the government's equity contribution in the partnership with China Africa Investment FZ Company, while also presenting relevant documents including the 'C of O' to back his claims.
Earlier on Saturday, April 5, a group of protesters under the aigies of Concerned Land Owners Association led by one Honourable Gbadebo Ajose, bearing placards, expressed their grievances against Chinese companies operating in the Free Trade Zone area of encroachment of their land, using armed Mobile Policemen, Nigeria Army, DSS, Armed thugs and all sorts of intimidations to forcefully takeover lands from them beyond what was officially allotted them in 2007.
The protesters claimed that the Chinese Companies have destroyed their houses, cottage industries, livestock farms, farmlands, schools, religious places and other structures in the process of the forceful acquisition.
The protesters added that in 2007, a delegation of Ogun State Government led by the then deputy Governor, Alihaja Salimot Badiru visited Igbesa Community at the Oba's Palace to appeal to the Community to give part of their land to the State for citing the Ogun Guadong Free Trade Zone, saying after an initial resistance and consultations with families they marked and gave out 250 hectares, while families in Ejila Awori gave out 398.489 Hectares to the Ogun State Government.
Alhaji Kabir in response to this allegation challenged the Journalists, saying; "you need to ask the protesters to present the 'C of O' of the 650 hectares of land that they claimed was given to the State Government and I can tell you they would not be able to provide it, because it is a fabrication from the figment of their imagination."
To support his assertions, Kabir presented heads of the various families who the protesters claim they represented and they took turns to condemn the protesters because they were not representing them but their selfish interests
The Jamiu Ajidaba, Oloriebi of Iludofin, who heads the family of Hon. Gbadebo, the Chief agitator said, "Gbadebo Ajose should be ignored because he is not representing our interest, in 2007, the government enumerated those affected by the acquisition of the 2000.407 hectares of land and in 2008 paid compensation to those that presented themselves. Aside this the Company operating in the FTZ have being involved with several empowerment programmes and beneficial projects for the community."
After the press conference, OGFTZ also issued a rejoinder on the Media Reports that reads in part; "Our attention has been drawn to a misleading and malicious publication currently circulating online, riddled with falsehoods, distortions, and outright misinformation. The content is not only baseless but appears to be a deliberate attempt to incite unrest and discredit the operations of the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa, Ado-Odo/Ota, Ogun State.
"For the avoidance of doubt, the Ogun-Guangdong Free Trade Zone is a landmark joint investment initiative between the Ogun State Government and Chinese Government (Guangdong Province). The land in question was acquired a long time ago by the Ogun State government and out of which 2000.407 hectares of the acquired land was allocated to Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone. Ogun State Government issued a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) immediately after the allocation. The land allocated by the Government is the equity contribution of the Ogun State government being one of the major stakeholders and shareholder of Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone.
"The Zone was officially commissioned in 2008 under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, and since then, several foreign and local enterprises have commenced operations within it.
"Most of these families have accepted due compensation and vacated the land, out of respect for the government allocation.
However, the individual credited with making the inflammatory claims in the publication has a history of inciting protests and unrest within the Igbesa Community. He does not represent the interests of the local communities and is not recognized as a spokesperson.
"Rather, he is persona non grata in this matter, having being a part of an unlawful attack on officials of the Ogun State Bureau of Lands, an incident in which a senior staff member (Surveyor) sustained serious injuries and properties belonging to Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone were vandalized in 2023." The rejoinder reads.
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