Ogun Ancestral Land Dispute: Chinese Investors Face Community Protest

• Residents of Fere and Oniporogun communities in Ogun State have appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene in an alleged land allocation to Chinese investors.
• The communities claim bulldozers and security personnel have been deployed to land where hundreds of homes are already built, threatening displacement.
• Community leaders, including Baale of Fere Chief Okesola Alani, allege no consultation occurred before the allocation, despite prior engagement with the government since 2017.
• Residents have invested significantly in developing the area, including providing electricity, and insist industrial development should not destroy their homes.
• The communities are calling for a halt to activities and an urgent meeting to resolve the dispute, suggesting alternative land for investors.

The communities' plea highlights a critical issue in Nigeria land acquisition foreign investors, where community land rights and proper consultation protocols are paramount to avoid Ogun State community displacement and ensure equitable development.

Residents from the Fere and Oniporogun communities, located within the Orile-Mo area of Obafemi Owode Local Government in Ogun State, have urgently appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun for intervention regarding an alleged land allocation to Chinese investors. This development, they contend, threatens to displace hundreds of families and obliterate their ancestral heritage. The communities voiced their concerns during a protest held on a recent Saturday at the contested site.

During the demonstration, community members reported the deployment of bulldozers and security personnel, indicating an imminent commencement of operations on land where numerous homes and other properties are already established. They called upon the state government to immediately halt all activities on the disputed land and to convene an urgent meeting with local leaders and other relevant stakeholders to find a resolution. The residents emphasized that industrial progress should not come at the cost of their homes, personal investments, and livelihoods.

Chief Okesola Alani, the Baale of Fere, highlighted that community members have been in discussions with the government since 2017 regarding the necessity of expanding their village, a matter that remains unresolved. He detailed the significant collective efforts made by residents to develop the area, including their communal contributions to establish electricity infrastructure. Many individuals have also invested their life savings into acquiring land and constructing houses within these communities.

Chief Alani asserted that community leaders were not consulted prior to the alleged land allocation. He claimed that security operatives and heavy-duty equipment were brought to the area without any prior engagement with the residents, stating that proper procedure dictates contacting the village leader before any government allocation. The Baale, who holds traditional recognition from Oba Reuben Sogaolu, the Olu of Orile-Mo, the Ologbon of Imo, and the Alake of Egbaland, maintained that ample land exists for industrial development without encroaching upon established homes. He implored Governor Abiodun to safeguard the residents and facilitate their peaceful coexistence with the foreign investors.

Salau Hamid, the Acting Chairman of the Community Development Association for both Oniporogun and Fere communities, echoed these sentiments, urging the government to consider the severe plight of residents who have striven to build homes amidst challenging economic conditions. Hamid expressed dismay over the situation, noting that the Chinese investors appeared to be taking over land without clear understanding from the communities on how this came about. He underscored the financial and emotional toll of potential displacement, claiming that over 300 residents possess either completed or under-construction houses in the affected areas.

While acknowledging the desire for development, Hamid clarified that the communities seek a form of progress that allows them to continue existing and co-existing. He suggested that investors could secure alternative properties elsewhere, reiterating the call for the government to suspend any demolition of residents' properties. The communities' plea highlights a critical issue in Nigeria land acquisition foreign investors, where community land rights and proper consultation protocols are paramount to avoid Ogun State community displacement and ensure equitable development.

Lawyers advising foreign investors on land acquisition in Ogun State, Nigeria, must conduct thorough due diligence on community land rights and ensure proper consultation protocols are followed to mitigate risks of disputes, protests, and potential project delays or abandonment. Compliance officers should note the significant reputational and operational risks associated with acquiring land without clear community consent.

Source: Original reporting via PUNCH.