Protests in Ondo over claims of exploitation by state-owned oil company

…we’re open to engagement from host communities – firm

Indigenes of Okitipupa, Irele and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas of Ondo State, have protested against the alleged exploitation of land owners by the Ondo Oil Palm Company (OOPC) for decades without providing any tangible benefits to the host communities.

The indigenes under the umbrella of ‘Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council’ (ISCRC), on Thursday at a Press Conference held in Akure, the Ondo State Capital, expressed concern over the exploitation of the Community by OOPC, a company, he described, as existing “in name only” without any significant physical or developmental presence in the area.

Orimisan Adelokiki, who spoke on behalf of the Council, pointed out that OOPC had failed to honour its obligations to the people despite generating billions of naira in revenue from their land.

According to Adelokiki, the advanced cultivation of oil palm, which allows for direct export to international organizations, including aviation firms, has been introduced to the region.

Adelokiki noted that the decision to reclaim the land was based on legal counsel, citing amendments to the Land Use Act, which grants land owners the right to repossess their land if tenants breach agreements.

“For 71 years, our people have lived in misery while this company, under the guise of government backing, has been extorting our resources without accountability,” Adelokiki said.

The Community, Adelokiki said, had written several letters to OOPC and relevant authorities, including the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), requesting an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of N10.7 billion generated from the land between 2021 and 2024.

“Despite this substantial revenue, not one naira has been invested back into our land,” he said, challenging OOPC to identify any social or infrastructural development it had undertaken in the region.

“Efforts to engage OOPC have reportedly been met with delays and inadequate responses”, Adelokiki stated that while a protest was planned for January 27, OOPC’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) representative and other officials attempted to dissuade the community, citing issues with the proposed venue.

But the company, in a reaction described the Council’s claim as an unprovoked propaganda to smear the good image of the company by certain unscrupulous elements.

Taiwo Adewole, the Managing Director, OOPC, in a statement made available to journalists in Akure said; “We want to say it again that this company is open to constructive engagement from our host communities and others desirous of conducting legitimate businesses.

“As part of the management vision to chart a new course, we have put in place a robust corporate social responsibility mechanism, CSR, to reinvent a strong chemistry between the host communities and the company. It must be noted that this company is not in any way in disagreement with its legitimate land owners across the host communities.

“It’s suffice to know that OOP Plc entered into an agreement with each host community, and that’s the reason our estates are named after each host community. At no time did we enter into any uniform agreement called Ikaleland.

“In each estate, there is a land owners body that deals with issues regarding land matter that may arise from time to time. At the moment, we are yet to receive any complaint of indebtedness to any of our land owners across the three local government areas, Okitipupa, Irele and Ese-Odo.

“For the avoidance of doubt, anyone with such evidence of indebtedness to any land owners and/or families can come forward for necessary clarification and prompt action.

“As a matter of fact, we have been discharging our obligations to them up to date, and we are expected to discharge the current obligation to various families this month. Expectedly, we are appealing to our landowners to please brief their wards about the symbiotic chemistry that has subsisted between the company and the landowners over the years.”