My dear Cross Riverians, do you still own your ancestral lands? By Joseph Odok

I wrote an article on the 23 of March 2016 titled “The Super High Way: An ecological warfare and implications on Cross River State Citizens, Forests, Animals and Economy” At the time it did not garner much attention and in fact many did not believe the contents.

Kache Bano Canopy Walk-A-Way built by former Governor Donald Duke, Boki LG, Cross River State, Nigeria. Once the longest in Africa before a 2012 mudslide. Some spans have been restored. 

Photo- pandrillus.org

Many months later none of the issues raised here have been resolved. Though the Cross River Super Highway has been temporarily halted by the demand from the FG for an EIA (environmental impact assessment) all indications show the project and the enormous lands seized, to the detriment of ignored decayed roads within the State, is still on the radar of the Cross River State Government.  There is still no information available on how it will be funded or how investors if any will recoup the investment.

Let us revisit the Government of Cross River revocation notice of January 22, 2016.

Notice Of Revocation Of Rights of Occupancy For Public Purpose Land Use Act 1978 issued on the 22nd day and of January 2016 and published in Cross River State Chronicle by the Government of Cross River State. The document is herein attached, see also map of forest and communities that will be razed in pursuit of the Super High Way:

(1) Notice is hereby given to all rights of occupancy existing or deemed to exist on all that piece or parcel of Land lying and situated along the Super High Way from Esighi, Bakassi LGA to Bekwara LGA of Cross River State of Nigeria covering a distance of 260km approximately and having an offset of two hundred meters (200m) on either side of the centre line of the road and further 10km on both sides of the road after the span of the super high way, excluding Government Forest reserve forest and public institutions are hereby revoked for overriding public purpose absolutely. The description of the land and the said document is attached in this article.

(2) Any person(s) claiming any interest(s) in his/her unexhausted improvement in the said land is/are required within 6(six) weeks from the day of this notice to send to the Director Lands, Lands and Urban Development, Calabar, a statement of such Rights of occupancy

(3) Such statement shall be made by the claimant(s) in person or through their agent duly authorized...

(4) Government is willing to treat for the residue of unexhausted  improvements in respect of which no statement is received are liable to be treated as non existent. A notice is hereby given that the government intends to enter and use said Land at expiration of (6) weeks from the date of this notice.

(5) Any person(s) who wilfully hinder(s) the Governor of the Cross River State or any Person employed by him from using the said land is/are liable on conviction to a fine of #50,000 only or to imprisonment for 3 (three) months

(6) A plan showing the site is available for inspection during official hours at the office of DIRECTOR OF LANDS, Lands Department, Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, Calabar

Take note that evaluation and proper process of notification, hearings and compensation processes have not been done until the time of writing this article. Many communities are unaware of their landless state. I then reinstated the implications of the Ayade's revocation on the Citizenry and revised them as follows.

If the revocation of Land affects about 260km multiplied by 20km that is, 10km by each side of the road equalling about 5,200km of land will go for the super high way. This could be translated to 25% of Cross River State Land and more than 70% of our forest. 530,000 hectares.

The proposed super highway project consumes 25% of state land
most of it for a mysterious 20km wide "buffer zone"

1. A large percentage of Cross River State people HAVE lost their land without any compensation.

2. Many may lose access to their farmlands including plantations thereby becoming unemployed

3. We will lose most of our endangered species. This has an impact on research, tourism, business, medical cures and ecological balance. Surely one road can be made without wiping out 70% of protected areas.

4. We will of course lose our ecological funds which some of our communities have earned from outstanding conservation practices.

5. The existing bilateral agreement and the Land Use Act with provisions for compensation and social security will be jettisoned

6. What do we owe the yet unidentified investors, we must not let Cross River State will be further plunged into debt and financial slavery. Transparency is needed!

7. How does the Governor honour its myriad MoUs on agriculture? Is the famous 10km buffer zone on both sides to site these plantations? Since no information has been given conjecture is the order of the day!

I will add a few more

9. Why is there a wall of silence from the state house of assembly and national legislators to this crisis and complaints from constituents? Why are constituents forced to seek justice from the Presidency itself as evidenced in the protest and signatures handed over on the 22^nd of September to the Minister of State for Environment for onward transmission to the President of Nigeria.

10. Cross River State farmers and land owners in over 180 communities are automatically disqualified for agric or any loans where required collateral is proof of ownership of land. It is no longer yours. 

11. Some Ayade aides say the 10km buffer zone is for “new city development” It appears the assumption that those lands are empty. Agidinpko community in Ikom falls within the 10km on either side buffer zone is not empty. Incidentally the Ikom Local Government Chairman hails from this community. Is it empty? Who will enjoy the new city? Is it in the 2017 budget?

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State,

Imagine all the communities along the Calabar Ogoja road being pushed back 10km. No Local Govt markets, no community roadside markets, no hotels owned by locals in a 10km distance on either side of the road because Govt has seized all those lands. One of the primary gains of such a road is rendered completely useless.  

I will end with an appeal. Seek answers for your from your reps. Legally one quarter of all lands in Cross River State was seized on January 22^nd by the Government. Make sure you know where your land stands.

Joseph Odok - Joseph Odok World

Social Activist

Social Change Agent

Concerned Son of Boki