News in Brief:
– Beninese farmers in Ogun State, Nigeria, are protesting the planned construction of a police school on land they claim to have purchased and developed.
– They reject the offered compensation as inadequate and request a proper assessment before any demolition.
A proposed police secondary school project in Ogun State, Nigeria, has sparked controversy after Beninese farmers residing in the area claimed their land is being used for the construction without proper compensation.
Representatives of the Beninese farmers, led by Romain Kakpo, President of the Benenise Residents in Nigeria (Ogun State chapter), argue that the designated land is critical to their livelihood. They claim to have purchased the land in 2012 and 2015, built houses, drilled boreholes, and cultivated crops like cassava.
Additionally, the farmers have rejected the compensation offered by the local monarch, Oba Alani Egunjobi. They claim it falls far short of the land’s current market value and doesn’t account for the structures and crops they’ve invested in.
Therefore, the farmers are appealing to the federal government to send a delegation to assess the land’s value and their assets before any demolition takes place. They reiterated their support for development but insist on fair compensation.
However, while the community monarch, Oba Egunjobi acknowledges the farmers’ presence on the land, he stated that compensation has already been agreed upon by parties involved. He claims cheques are ready for those who submitted names but alleges delays due to a lack of cooperation from some farmers.
