By Stanley Nwanosike
The Enugu State Government says it ensures transparency and international best practices in land acquisition system for agricultural initiatives and programmes in the state.The state’s Commissioner for Agriculture and Agro-industrialisation, Mr Patrick Ubru, disclosed this while briefing journalists in Enugu on Friday.
The commissioner said that the government engaged in beneficial and community-oriented land acquisition for agricultural purposes only.
Ubru observed that the state government, by an executive order issued by the state governor, Dr Peter Mbah, in 2024, committed to international best practices in agricultural land acquisition.
“By the Executive Order No. 001 of 2024 on the Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land Intensive Agriculture (FRILIA) signed by Gov. Peter Mbah, the state government had committed itself to international best practices in land acquisition for agricultural purposes,” he said.
The commissioner, who was reacting to an online report of moves by Gov Peter Mbah to buy off some ancestral lands in Eha-Amufu community in Isi-Uzo Local Government Area and hand it over to non-indigenous herders for settlement described it as “false”.
Ubru, however, urged the people of the state to discountenance the report, describing it as “completely fake and mischievous “.
According to him, being a responsible and people-focused government, this administration would not undermine or short-change its people under any guise.
The commissioner said that the Executive Order had ensured transparency in land acquisition with the consent of the people and to the benefit of all within the same community.
He explained that the Executive Order was a public document that anyone may read in electronic or hard copy to understand how open and transparent Mbah’s visions and objectives were regarding land acquisition for agricultural purposes.
“The Executive Order ensures that land acquisition and resettlement for large-scale agribusiness investments are undertaken in line with international best practices and guaranteed shared benefits between private investors and host communities.
“The Government of Enugu State is desirous of deepening the state’s agribusiness reforms including delivering a win-win approach to all the relevant stakeholders on agricultural land matters and investment opportunities.
“The FRILIA Executive Order will enhance access to large-scale investments, gainful employment on large-scale farms, sufficient income, and protection from the volatility of agricultural labour and product markets.
“The Framework will ensure adherence to guiding principles covering overarching investment, recognition and protection of land rights, state land acquisition and resettlement, environmental and social responsibility,” he said.
The commissioner said that the government had put in place mechanisms to achieve the government’s objective of creating an enabling, responsible and inclusive business operating environment for large-scale agribusiness investments in the state.
“The state government established the FRILIA Steering and Technical Committees with clearly defined functions and powers.
“Others are the establishment of a grievance redress mechanism; and development and adoption of FRILIA Toolkits/Guidelines/Policies or Equivalent,” he added.
Ubru said that Gov. Mbah, being a leader with vision, had clear intentions and programmes to grow the GDP of the state from $4 billion to $30 billion.
He noted that the governor had taken time and opportunities to explain his vision of uplifting the people of the state out of poverty. (NAN)
