Firm, ERA differ on alleged land grabbing, exploitation

COMMUNITIES and civil society groups in Cross River State are at daggers drawn with Wilmar International Limited over issues of land grabbing and communities’ exploitation.

Environmental Rights Action/Friends of The Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) and NGO Coalition for Environment (NGOCE) alleged that people from Wilmar oil palm plantation impacted communities such as Betem/Ehom, Akpet and Idoma communities, Biase local government area and Mbarakom/Uwet/Njagachang and Mfamosing/Aningeje and Akamkpa local government areas have been shortchanged in the deal signed by government with the company.

They called on the State Government to set a motion that will review the MOU allegedly signed between the state government and Wilmar on behalf of the communities and ensure that all impacted communities and civil society groups are part of the review process by making it transparent and inclusive.

But the Managing Director of Wilmar, West Africa, Mr. Santosh Pillai debunked the allegations saying “Wilmar remains undaunted by detractors and continues to focus on responsible development in Nigeria as Wilmar recognises the importance and shares the concerns of sustainable development in these developing countries, and is happy to engage with well-meaning civil society organisations in constructive dialogue and collaboration towards this common goal”.

The Communities and the Civil society made their grievances known after a workshop organised by ERA/FoEN and NGOCE to sensitise communities on ways of protecting their lands, saying that the community lands were taken from them through their chiefs and elders who were given money to convince them to sell their lands at a cheap rate.

The communiqué noted that workers in Wilmar plantation earn less than N10,000  which is far below the national minimum wage of N18,000 and resolved that Wilmer should desist from deliberately dividing the community as this will lead to conflicts among community members as they promised to support one another in resisting and taking action to protect their lands and property.

The communique endorsed by the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Mr. Godwin Ojo and the some community urged civil society and the media to be effective partners in this process and increase collaboration between civil societies and the media on one hand and impacted communities.

“The payment of N7,000 to workers on the plantation and making them work from 6am to 4pm everyday picking palm fruits is slave labour and this must stop immediately and proper wages negotiated with the women who work the fields 10 hours daily”, adding that “Wilmar has been making plans to divide communities which they (communities) claimed could result to war among affected communities”.

In his remark, the Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Mr Ojo, said the meeting which theme was “Industrial Oil Palm Plantations: Tackling the Dangerous Eco-Business” was a follow up advocacy meeting that exists between all communities impacted by Wilmar’s actions.

He said, “It is our expectation that this process would strengthen and enhance your capacity to continue to mobilise, resist and take action to protect the most important resource any community can have-your land. We are the first to admit that we should have sessions like this more often so that Wilmar and the Nigerian government understand that we are set on this course, we are united in our quest and we will not be silenced, intimidated nor divided by the manipulations of Wilmar” which is in joint venture with PZ Cussons.

Reacting to the issues raised by its host communities and ERA/FoEN  regarding some of its operations in Nigeria in its recent report “Exploitation and Empty Promises: Wilmar’s Nigerian Land Grab, Pillai said the legal review carried out by relevant bodies established that “the procedure engaged by Biase Plantations Limited, a Wilmar subsidiary for the purchase of the Ibiae Estate from the Cross River State Government was transparent and in substantial compliance with the relevant applicable Nigerian laws and generally in accordance with Principle 2 of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Principles and Criteria”.

He said, “while land settlement and compensation matters were carried out by the Nigerian Government directly with the local communities, Wilmar, together with the Government, conducted joint consultations with the local communities to understand, and where relevant and reasonable, meet their needs. Examples of requests by the local communities that the Group had agreed to, include:

“Payment of annual royalty for the use of the land; Payment of consultation fees and traditional rites as a symbol of local community accepting the investor; Provision of scholarships; Provision of employment to the communities.”

From the legal review, he said, “the legal expert concluded that the acquisition of the Ibiae Estate from the Cross River State by Biase Plantations Limited was transparent and within the ambit of the Land Use Act No. 6 1978.

“Wilmar endeavours to ensure that pay and conditions for its employees and contract workers are fair and reasonable. To this end, the wages the Group pays are at least 30 per cent above the legal minimum, and approximately 20per cent above the industry minimum standards. Documentation of pay and employment terms are also provided for all employees and contract workers. The Group does not practice any form of discrimination and ensures that all employees, including women and migrant workers, are equally treated”.