"ERA/FoEN’s RSPO Certification Claims Spurious, Libelous—Okomu Oil"

Residents of Uhiele, Odighi and Odiguetue communities in Edo State have lamented the devastation of their environment and loss of livelihoods resulting from deforestation by multinational firms in the area. Village head of Uhiele Community, Ovenseri Owakhina, while lamenting the neglect of the communities by a multinational agribusiness firm, said the company has taken over their farmlands for plantation purposes, thereby leaving them without any means of livelihood. Owakhina said the community still lacked basic social amenities in spite of the multinational firm’s promises to bring development to the community...

Executive Director, Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (FoEN), Godwin Uyi Ojo, urged the Edo state government to revoke all certification in the interest of the communities and their livelihood. He said the three local government councils mostly affected by the activities of the multinational firm are in Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Uhunwonde local councils of the state. Ojo said government must stop all forms of Oil Palm plantation expansion that are detrimental to community farmlands, biodiversity hotspots and historical sites. He urged the multinational firms operating in Edo State to respect communities and seek their consent in development processes and land acquisitions that affect them.