by Ogbebor Tony Ikponmwosa
The Edo State Oil Palm Programme has provided employment with good pay for youths in host communities across the State.
The Acting Team Lead of the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), Mr. Churchill Oboh, has said that this aligns with the Edo State Government commitment to achieving a socio-economic boost in the State, through oil palm investment.
He stated this while speaking at a project monitoring exercise of Fayus Nigeria Limited oil palm concession in Ugbeturu community, Owan West Local Government Area in Edo State.
Mr. Oboh, while speaking, noted that community inclusiveness in the oil palm programme is imperative, and all residents affected have been duly compensated.
According to him, “The communities are at peace with the investors and the State Government because they were properly engaged and carried along in all the processes in line with the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) Guidelines developed for Edo State, and we have ensured that the farmers are duly compensated after the crop enumeration exercise.”
While commending the State Governor for this initiative, the Acting Team lead also added that the oil palm investment has created gainful employment opportunities for the people in other communities and the Ugbeturu community will gain from the oil palm mill and refinery soon to be located in their community.
Also speaking at the exercise, the representative of Fayus Nigeria Limited, Mr. Innocent Dauda, said that the company is set to plant over 3,000 hectares in the main field during the wet season, and land clearing is ongoing. Similarly, they have 500,000 nursery beds prepared already to enable them to transplant their pre-nursery.
He also disclosed that one hundred and thirty (130) workers from the Ugbeturu community have currently been employed, and a proposed five thousand (5,000) workforce will be employed when full operation commences.
On his part, Mr. Martin Ode, who spoke on behalf of the community, acknowledged that farmers in the community have been compensated, and expressed gratitude to the State Government for the level of inclusiveness accorded Ugbeturu community.
