Residents of Ilara Remo in the Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State don dey protest against the alleged forceful takeover of over 500 hectares of their farmland. The community claim say officials from an international company, allegedly backed by the state government, be behind the land grabbing.
During the protest, the residents, led by their regent, Chief Olukoya Sodunola, brandish placards with messages like “Gov Dapo Abiodun, save us from destruction,” “Stay away from our land,” and “Idongan land is not for sale.” Sodunola express their frustration, saying, “About six days ago, we wake up to find people entering our farmland with caterpillars, destroying our cassava, maize, and vegetables…. When we inquire about their identity, they claim to be from the state government but could not provide any identification or permission. When we insist they stop, they threaten us with soldiers and DSS operatives.”
The community emphasize their historical ties to the land, noting, “We have already given hundreds of hectares for the construction of the international airport and the Technical College. The remaining land is vital for farming and the future development of our community. Our community has existed for over 500 years, and we cannot allow these actions to erase our heritage.”
Another resident, Joseph Oyetola, lament the situation, saying, “It’s disheartening that after giving up a large portion of our land for the Cargo Airport and Technical College, some outsiders now want to take the little we have left for farming and community development. We believe this is not a government-sanctioned act, which is why we are pleading with Governor Abiodun for intervention.”
Alaba Sotayo, another resident, add that the officials identify themselves as representatives of the Arise Group of Companies…. He state that although the group previously met with the community, they were told that the remaining land is essential for local farming and development. “We don’t want them here. Are they trying to force us off our forefathers’ land? How will we feed our families if they take everything from us?” he question.
In response to the protest, the Special Adviser to Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Mr Kayode Akinmade, state that the land in question falls under government acquisition, which was initiated about 20 years ago for public use, including the Agro Cargo Airport, now named Gateway International Airport. This acquisition reportedly spans 10,000 hectares across several communities, including Ilara, Iperu, Illisan, and Irolu.
Akinmade state, “Compensation for the acquired land was paid during the acquisition period. Recently, there have been stakeholder engagements with relevant communities. The government is also developing the airport through a Public-Private Partnership, with the Arise Group as the private partner…. “The partner is currently working on a Resettlement Action Plan for affected community members, including those from Ilara.” He also note that community meetings regarding the Resettlement Action Plan had been ongoing, with another meeting scheduled before the end of the week, aiming to address the concerns of the residents.
