Hundreds of smallholder farmers in Etomi, Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State, on Wednesday, protested the state government’s planned privatization of a cocoa estate located in their community.
Carrying placards with various inscriptions, the farmers expressed their dissatisfaction, saying the move was not in the best interest of the local farming population.
The demonstrators—comprising elderly residents, men, and women engaged in the cocoa value chain—called for an immediate reversal of the government’s decision.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, Mr. Mbek Agbor-Tangban warned the state government against breaching an agreement originally made with their forebears.
He explained that the land used for the cocoa estate was donated by the community based on a mutual understanding between the government and the people.
“Government should have consulted us as the landlord community, considering the vast land we gave them for the cocoa project,” Agbor-Tangban said.
He referenced a public notice in The Nigerian Chronicle dated June 25, 2025, which advertised a call for tenders for the cocoa estate.
“This publication deeply agitated us because it shows the government plans to privatize the estate, in disregard of the original agreement with our grandparents,” he added.
“The agreement clearly states that in any instance of privatization or subletting, the landlord community must be consulted first. We should have the first right of refusal. Only if we are unable to bid should the government open it up to public tender.”
Etomi’s women leader, Ntunkai Mary-Ndum, also criticized the lack of consultation, calling the move “disrespectful and unfair to the host community.”
Echoing similar concerns, youth leader Mr. Abang Shikina-Oji urged the state government to reconsider its decision in light of the community’s contributions and legal rights.
In response to the protest, the Cross River State Government appealed for calm, promising to take all viewpoints into account.
Commissioners for Agriculture and Information, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo and Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, assured the community that Governor Bassey Otu remains committed to acting in the best interest of the people.
“The governor will not make any decision that undermines the interests of his people. He is open to reviewing any action that causes distress,” they stated.
“For now, we urge all aggrieved individuals to remain calm. Their concerns will be heard and addressed,” they concluded.
