Members of the Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council, ISCRC, have alleged the Ondo Oil Palm Company (OOPC) of exploiting local landowners for decades without providing any tangible benefits to the host communities.
The Council however called on the State Government to urgently intervene before the land dispute crisis escalated.
Addressing Newsmen in Akure in, the Ondo State Capital, the Spokesman of the Council, Adelokiki Orimisan Patrick, 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.
He explained that the local communities have embraced this improved system, with many currently engaged in the production process.
He noted that the decision to reclaim the land was based on legal counsel, citing amendments to the Land Use Act, which grant landowners the right to repossess their land if tenants breach agreements.
Adelokiki 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.
“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,” Patrick stated. He further revealed that OOPC has not produced a single liter of vegetable oil in 31 years, questioning the legitimacy of its operations.
The community, Adelokiki disclosed, has 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 revealed 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.
He added that security arrangements were made with the police and DSS, but the protest was ultimately postponed following the intervention of Senator Jimoh Ibrahim and the Attorney General of Ondo State.
Despite assurances from OOPC’s Managing Director to address the grievances, Patrick lamented that no meaningful dialogue had occurred. “The invitation from Ondipa to meet barely came too late, after years of neglect and suffering,” he said, emphasizing the community’s frustration over decades of stalled development and broken promises.
Adelokiki reaffirmed the community’s resolve to reclaim its land and seek justice, describing the situation as a “blatant fraud” perpetuated against the people.
He stressed that all necessary legal and administrative measures would be pursued to ensure accountability.
