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The Rivers Civil Society Organisations (RIVSCO) has frowned at what it described as the nonchalant attitude displayed by SIAT Nig Ltd towards its landlord-communities, warning that if nothing is done to improve the situation within 14 days, the organization would be forced to embark on “a mother-of-all protest.”
The five communities making up SIAT landlord-communities in Ikwerre local government area – Apani, Ubima, Omerelu, Omademe and Ozuoha, had on Tuesday, January 22, 2019 staged a walk to the Government House, Port Harcourt, protesting the company’s alleged non-compliance with agreements earlier reached with host communities.
Reading a communiqué reached by the Concerned SIAT KELGA Landowners of the Nucleus Estate, Ubima, pro-tem chairman of the landowners, Chief (Comr) Ikechi Umesi, noted “that SIAT, having acquired from the Rivers State Government the assets of Risonpalm, which comprise a concession of over 11,000 hectares of oil palm plantation including the entire social and industrial infrastructure of such an industrial oil palm complex, should also own responsibilities for over 31 years of non-payments of rents due to the landowner families of the Nucleus Estate, Ubima.”
He said that the landowners are “unrepentantly committed to a collectively vowed pursuit of equitable access and opportunities for all landowners of Siat Nig. Ltd to attain educational, intellectual and occupational development.
“Whilst we remain committed to the ideals of peaceful, constructive dialogue and engagement, we call for a people-centered and participatory development plan for our peace-loving Communities, not devoid of massive infrastructural projects and job opportunities for our army of unemployed youths. We firmly believe that SIAT Nig. Ltd has benefited much from our communities and should begin the process of re-investing in the lives of the people of these communities,” Umesi said.
Chairman of RIVSCO, Comrade Enefaa Georgewill, while addressing the media, pointed out that in 2011 SIAT Nig. Ltd acquired from Rivers State Government the assets of Risonpalm which comprise a concession of 16,000 hectares of oil palm plantation, including entire social and industrial infrastructure.
He said that having acquired the assets of former Risonpalm, “it is our believed that all issues concerning the former Rivsonpalm and the landowners could have been addressed by SIAT Nig Ltd because no one can acquire assets without liabilities.”
These liabilities, according to Georgewill, include the fact that for more than 30 years, the former Risonpalm has failed to fulfill their responsibilities of payment of rent due to the landowner families of nucleus estate, Ubima.
He said that the former Risonpalm has refused to pay the 10% of the profits accrued from the project annually to the landowners as was expressly stated on the lease agreement of 25th day of April, 1977, adding that all the social responsibilities agreed upon by landowners and former Rivsonpalm were completely abounded.
“Having received complain on the above issues raised and total neglect, ill-treatment and high-handedness against the landowners at nucleus estate Ubima, it is our firm believed that, the landowners were not carried along in all the process that led to final acquisition of former Rivsopalm by SIAT.
“We therefore demand on behalf of landowners in Ubima nucleus state that SIAT Nig Ltd should, as a matter of urgency, commerce the process of reviewing the lease agreement which the former Rivsopalm reached with its landowners; SIAT should with matter of urgency offset all debts owed to Landowners for over 30years now by the former Risonpalm which is rent payment; SIAT should sign a new general memorandum of understanding with the landowners, and also should stop forthwith any community relation policy that has resulted in serious conflict between host communities.
“Finally, if after 14 days and nothing has been done to address the issues raised, we shall in conjunction with landowners organize the mother of all protest against SIAT Nig Ltd and take further steps to protect their rights,” Georgewill said.
