Tension as gov’t plans to take over 43 rice farms in Yobe

Tension is brewing among farmers in Yobe State as the state government has initiated an arrangement to take over their multi billion naira rice farms at Laba  village of Bursari Local Government Area.

A 67-year-old farmer, Alhaji Musa Ahmed, who spoke on behalf of the farmers, disclosed to Kanem Trust that they were asked to relinquish their farms by Mala Jawa, the Member representing Bursari Constituency in the House of Assembly.

Alhaji Musa said they got the lands from the Village Head of Garin Dole and had been investing on them for the past 38 years.

He said the farms were full of trees when they collected them from the village head and that they kep investing and clearing them until they became full pledged rice farms.

He said his farm was about two square kilometres which and produce over 6,500 bags of rice annually.

Apart from his earnings from the farm, Alhaji Ahmed has been an employer of labour working with over 150 youths daily on his farm.

He said, “It was after getting the farm, I established this village and named it Laba and invited people to settle down with me before I left for Gashua town; a neighbouring community.

“I was the one that shared farm spaces to 42 other farmers and we are all making gains out of the farms, so I am now speaking with their voice.”

He reiterated that they could not stop government from collecting their farms if their tenure was due.

He xplained that, “Of course every land belongs to the government, but collecting multi billion naira farms like ours must attract full compensation of our labour, because this is where we invested all the resources we have.

“We are even sceptical of the people leading the project by the state government, because recently they asked us to donate N5,000 each for using our farms this year.

“We therefore urge Governor Mai Mala Buni to quickly intervene and do justice to us because we don’t want to the take law into our hands.”

Hon Jawa could not be reached for comment on the matter.

But the Commissioner for Youth and Sport, Goni Bukar Lawan, who is the Chairman, Compensation Committee of the LAVA Irrigation Project, said nobody presented any complaint of such nature to him.

Lawan said, “The farmers should have come and met me to sort things out before doing any other thing.

“All I know is that government has earmarked some lands; about 2,000 hectares, for public use, mainly to give employment opportunity to youths.

“Government wants to inject about N10.4bn into the LAVA Irrigation Project.

“We have commenced payment of compensation; from N10,000 to N10,000 to the farmers affected. So if their farms fall within it is based on government’s decision; if they are lucky not to be part, it is fine.

“Let them come and make their case, and I believe they must have documents or evidence to indicate that they are the real owners of the farms. I don’t have knowledge of who asked them for money, if anyone asked them to give money they have to reach  me.”