Members of affected communities and Coalition of Concern Nzema Citizens have demanded a downward renegotiation of the 20,000-acre acquired land for the Petroleum Development Hub project which is seeking to create an estimated 780,000 employment in the Jomoro Enclave of the Western and beyond.
The Petroleum Hub project is a joint venture between the government and a consortium of investors which is to cost $60 billion and estimated to provide 780,000 direct and indirect jobs by the Land Use and Spatial Planning Authority, as well as expected that a number of the Nzema youth will have technical and managerial positions for the transformation of the entire Nzema.
However, speaking to Channel One News during a press conference by the Affected Communities and Coalition of Concern Nzema Citizens at Kabenlasuazo in Jomoro, Youth Chief of Nzemaland, Nana Kaku Ayemia, and a landowner demanded negotiation of the structure of the project, noting that they will fight to sprinkle their blood in fighting to secure land.
“We heard of the 20-acre acquired Petroleum Hub land but there have never been any proper negotiations. We don’t understand why the custodians and the actual owners of the land were not consulted before the $12billion was secured for the project? Per what we have heard, this over $12billion, they will give the actual owners and custodians of the land who have properties on the land only $150million and that means that they have just taken the land for nothing, no! We are not kicking against the land acquisition, but they should come to sit with us and have a very good and proper negotiation. Some of our demands is that we want a referral hospital out of the land they are taking and establish a Research Petrochemical University in Nzema.
“If indeed they are serious about the Petroleum Hub, they should start with 5,000 acres of land and not 20,000 acres, such that when the work is going on and you need more land, then we can give you more. If you have no diabolical idea to snatch our land, you won’t demand 20,000 acres. We have not been told what percentage Nzemas would have in the project and you want to come and commission your offices here. So, if proper negotiation is not done, we will sprinkle our blood in fighting to secure this land,” he cautioned.
Member of the Affected Communities and Coalition of Concern Nzema Citizens, Martin Erzah Fiifi Milson said they had initially welcomed the Petroleum Hub development project.
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But the current arrangement of the project threatens the current livelihoods of the people as well as does not address generations to come.
He therefore on behalf of the affected communities demanded an immediate direct negotiation with the people on a list of concerns including demand of 15% employment share for locals as well as a generational land use compensation equity share.
“We insist that our rights and interests must be respected and protected, under Article 20 of the 1992 Constitution and the Land Act. As such, we demand fair compensation, as required by law, and a mutually beneficial agreement. Adequate and fair compensation for cash crops and other farm products (Article 20, of the 1992 Constitution). A mutually agreed employment quota for our communities; 15% for the Affected communities and 20% for the entire municipality and Nzema as a whole (Local Content Policy, L.I. 2204). Generational compensation, equity in land use, and a share in project benefits (Land Act).
“Registration of lands belonging to the affected families, individuals, and chiefs and their families in their names with the Lands Commission, instead of solely registering in the name of the chiefs and Awulae (Land Act). The proposed ‘live wall’ in the spatial plans will restrict access to our farms and essential activities,” they demanded.
While further threatening to seek legal solution to their concerns if locals are not engaged on these concerns to address the issues, the Affected Communities and Coalition of Concern Nzema Citizens cautioned their traditional and political leaders to have their people at the centre of their dealings in the Petroleum Hun project.
“We caution our current traditional and political leaders against relinquishing our land without, proper negotiation, fair settlement, mutual agreement. Instead, our family heads, individual landowners, and chiefs are willing to offer the entire land in phases, progressively, to ensure a mutually beneficial agreement,” they added.
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