‘We are not involved in land grabbing,’ says Presco; ‘Yes you are,’ Edo Community insists

Public Relations Manager/Head of Administration of Presco Plc , Mr.Anthony Uwajeh, who spoke to a Nigerian national newspaper in a telephone interview said the company was not aware of any encroachment on the community’s land measuring 2,500 hectares as it was only processing the land documents allocated to it by the Edo State government.

He said, “the land allocated to Presco is a reserve in Uronigbe forest reserve and has been surveyed and the Certificate of Occupancy is being processed. We have no knowledge of any land measuring 2,500 hectares being encroached.”

But indigenes of Orogho community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to the Oba of Benin, HRM, Oba Ewuare II and Edo State Government to prevail on Presco Plc to stop the alleged encroachment on their community land.

The  community, which called on Presco Plc not to lay claim to the 2,500 hectares of land allegedly allocated to it by the state government, said they were not consulted before the 2,500 hectares of land was given to the company.

In a statement signed by elders and indigenes of Orogho community, which was made available to newsmen in Benin city, the community restated its support and loyalty to the Oba of Benin and the Edo State government over the 14,000 plus hectares of land duly given to Presco Plc by Oba Erediauwa of blessed memory, Edo State government and indigenes of Orogho community for agricultural  purposes.

According to them, “We have no issues with the 14,000 plus hectares of land allocated to Presco Plc by the late monarch and Edo State government and the entire indigenes of Orogho village but rather we are against the company’s claim to another 2,500 hectares of land belonging to Orogho community, whereas the 14,000 plus hectares of land duly approved to them have not been fully utilized by the oil palm company.”