NAN-H-21
Revocation
By Chidinma Agu
Lagos, April 26, 2017 (NAN) Some agro-processors on Wednesday decried the revocation of plots of land allocated to processing companies at the Imota Agro-Industrial Park, Ikorodu, Lagos.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in interviews that the land revocation would hinder the progress of agro-processing business in the state.
The plots were revoked by the state government on July 16, 2016.
One of the processors, Mr Kolawole Ayinde, the Managing Director of Tasty Foods Ltd., described the revocation as unjust to companies that had been allocated land at the park.
”Each plot at the industrial park costs one million naira, and we had paid and had our receipts, only to hear that the land has been revoked.
”There was no meeting with stakeholders, no reason, nothing at all. I am a member of the National Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Lagos Chapter.
”This action, if not reversed, will dent the relationship between the government and private sector as any proposal of government with private sector will be taken with a pinch of salt,” Ayinde said.
In his reaction, Mr Koshoni Akerele, the Managing Director of New Adage Nigeria, said that the plots of land were allocated to corporate agro-processing organisations and not individuals.
`’What l can say is that the revocation and the way it came must have a political undertone.
”If not, how will a government canvassing for food security, safety and resuscitation of the agriculture sector do such a thing?
”I want the government to have a change of mind on this issue. We understand that the project was not the baby of this present administration, but we want to see government as a continuum.
”We are responsible corporate citizens into genuine businesses,” Akerele said.
Also, Mr Razaq Ogunbanwo, the Managing Director of Hadij Resources, said that the industrial park was aimed at encouraging the private sector to develop agriculture.
”We keyed into the project, being members of different Organised Private Sector groups. We have spent huge amounts of money paying for the plots of land and mobilising to move to site.
”The revocation of the plots without any genuine reason is very bad.
”I can only appeal to the government to have a rethink and consider the huge setback it will create for agro-processing in the state,” Ogunbanwo said.
Mr Wale Oyekoya, Chairman, Imota Agro-Industrial Park Cooperatives, described the revocation as a case of policy somersault on agriculture.
”The government needs the private sector to make a positive change in agriculture.
”The revocation of the plots allocated to our members is not right; no excuse can justify the action.
”We are ready to start our businesses at the site. The government that spearheaded the project wanted the place to be an agro-industrial hub.
”Now that it is not the case anymore; we appeal to the government to reverse its decision so that we can move in and start our operations there,” Oyekoya said.
Oyekoya, Managing Director of BAMA Farms, expressed regrets that the farmers incurred huge losses when they were moved from Lekki axis to make way for international airport.
”As l speak to you, the whole area is still lying fallow. There is sign of airport development while farmers have lost a lot over that singular act.
”Government should be seen to be doing what it is preaching – diversification from oil to agriculture,” he said.
He said that policy somersault would discourage any synergy between the state government and the private sector.
Oyekoya said that the government needed the support of the private sector to feed the nation and earn foreign exchange from agriculture surplus.
According to him, the revocation is a huge set back to the growth of agriculture value chain in the country.
NAN reports that the revocation was part of the communique issued at the end of the Lagos State Executive Council Members and Body of Permanent Secretaries Retreat held on July 16, 2016.
According to the communique, the abolition of the Imota Agro-Industrial Park and cancellation of allocations within the park took immediate effect.
The government did not given a reason for the actions in the communique.
The state Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Toyin Suarau, told NAN on Wednesday that the Industrial Park was under the state Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives.
He said that since the revocation affected mainly people in agro-business, their letter of appeal was forwarded to the ministry.
Suarau, however, said that his ministry would look into the matter in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, to make progress.(NAN)
ACA/OFN/IGO
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(Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Ijeoma Popoola)