NGOCE|28 July 2016|8:30AM
Dear Cross Riverians, there are some deep facts about the Superhighway that we need to know, hence the reason why the NGO Coalition for Environment and other concerned Cross Riverians as well as Nigerians are calling on the Federal Government of Nigeria to stop this land revocation.
In May 2015, Governor Ben Ayade announced the construction of a 260 Km, 6 lane Superhighway from Esighi in Bakkasi LGA, northwards through Obudu to Katsina-Ala in Benue State.
On 22nd January 2016, the government published a notice on the weekend Chronicle Newspaper announcing the revocation of all land occupancy titles within a 20Km wide corridor of land along the highway route.
The revocation notice means that government has acquired all farmlands, forests and even houses on these routes. Over 185 communities within the affected land corridor are now landless and government can move the entire communities off its ancestral lands at any time. The total area of landmass seized by the state government amounts to 5,200 square Km, or about 25% of the state's total area.
In comparison, other express roads of similar size in Nigeria have revoked such rights of occupancy within a 100 metre (0.1 kilometre ) strip. However, the EIA (Environmental Impact Accessment) Act of 1992 states that no land clearing should be done without an EIA permit from the Federal Government. Consequently, the government started clearing the forests from Bakkasi, Boki, Akamkpa, Obubra, Ikom & Etung in February 2016 without any such permits.
The Federal Government issued 2 stop work orders to the Cross River State Government, but bulldozing continued. A lot of economic crops have been destroyed along communities in the Superhighway corridors without adequate compensation to the poor peasant farmers.
The revocation notice published by the state government stated that it intends to use the acquired land 6 weeks from the date of publication of 22nd January 2016. Bulldozing of the path wouldn't have commenced till 4th March 2016, but clearing of the path started in February. Fellow Cross Riverian's, must we fold our hands and watch our rainforest to be completely depleted?
Further to the foregoing, the following questions have remained unanswered by the state government:
1. Who owns the timber being cleared by the bulldozers?
2. Where is the timber going to?
3. Are these communities receiving royalties from the timber?
4. Does the money to build the Superhighway really exist with the huge debt profile it already has?
5. Why acquire 260 km of community lands along the highway route?
6. Is it to access the timber for logging along the route?
7. Why can't the state government upgrade the existing highway which has become a death trap that is claiming lives on a daily basis?
Fellow Cross Riverians and concerned Nigerians, we need to stop the revocation of community land rights.
The land belongs to the communities.
We hereby call on H.E President Muhammadu Buhari, the Honourable Minister of Environment, Ms. J. Amina Mohammed, Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben. Ayade to do the following;
1. Withdraw the revocation of the 20 km wide strip of land through Cross River State.
2. Immediately stop bulldozing until a comprehensive, transparent & participatory EIA has been carried out.
3. Carry out extensive consultation with all stakeholders on the proposed project.
4. Offer significant compensation to all individuals & affected communities.
Long live NGOCE (Non Governmental Organisation's Coalition for Environment),
Long live Cross River Rainforest,
Long Live Cross River State,
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
NGOCE
Is a Non Governmental Organisations Coalition for the Environment
