Etomi small-holder farmers in Cross River protest alleged government privatization of cocoa estate

Multitudes of smallholder farmers on Tuesday thronged the streets of Etomi community in Etung local government area of Cross River State with placards protesting state government’s planned privatization of one of the cocoa estates that is located in Etomi Community in the state.

The protesters carried placards with inscriptions like “Our cocoa estate is not for sale”, we say no to plan privatization of our cocoa estate, do not deprive us of our rights, we won’t accept privatization of our estate”.

The crowd of agitators cutting across adult demographics who are involved directly or indirectly in the cocoa value chain business in Etomi, demanded reversal of government’s plan to privatize the estate sited in their community.

A community leader who spoke on behalf of the aggrieved farmers, Mr. Mbek Agbor -Tangban, warned the state government not to deviate from the content of agreement which the state government entered with their grandparents, before they agreed to donate the parcel of land which they used to cultivate cocoa in the estate.

“Government ought to have consulted us as the landlord community, given the expanse of land we donated to them, because whatever that is going to happen with the estate when it fully becomes operational, we are the first people to be hinted.

“We saw a publication in the state government’s owned newspaper, “The Nigerian Chronicles date June 25,2025, that the Privatization Council of Cross River State had advertised tenders.

“That those who are interested to bid for the privatization of our estate should indicate interest.

“We became so agitated because of a government wants to privatized notwithstanding the earlier agreement with our grandparents, we should have been the first people government ought to have consulted.

“The agreement is very clear, that if the government wants to privatize or sublet, they ought to consult first with the landlords.

“We should be the first bidder, in situation where we are unable to bid, he can then advertise as stated in the agreement “, Mbek maintained.

Also speaking, Women leader in Etomi Community Ntunkai Mary- Ndum stated that if the government was no longer interested in the small holders’ farmers scheme that is cherished by the community, government should visit the community and pull of its cocoa stems and leave their land for them.

Etomi Community youth leader, Mr. Abang Shikina- Oji, called on the state government to have a rethink rather than privatize the farms.

He stressed that right from inception their grandparents who donated the land to the Okpara ‘s administration in 1957 had an agreement to accommodate that small holder farmers stressing that if there is anything that they are afraid of, is the privatization policy which is likely to put the host community on disadvantage.

The youth leader called on the state government to have a re-think and reverse the decision to privatize the cocoa estate in Etomi Community in Etung local government which if privatize is likely to throw half of the community youths out of Job.

” We are okay with small holder farmers’ scheme. We enjoy it. If our farms are taken away from us, it means government is going to leave us poorer.

“In their separate remarks, the state commissioners for Agriculture Mr. Johnson Ebokpo and his Information counterpart, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, stated that the governor whom they know as having the interest of the people at heart will definitely not do anything that the interest of his people.

“He will assuage whatever concerns the people have. As I speak, he is ready to review anything that causes his people pain. We look deep into it of course; His excellency primary concern is the people first.

“For now, we appeal to the aggrieved individuals to remain calm as the governor will look into the matter,” Otu’s commissioners maintained.

By: Archibong Emmanuel

(Snr. Reporter)