NAN-HE-8
Sensitisation
By Muhammad Nasir Bashir
Dutse, April 20, 2017 (NAN) The Jigawa Government has organised a two-day workshop to educate 16 communities in the state on the establishment of a sugar factory by the Lee Group, a Chinese company.
Dr Muhammad Sagagi, the Vice Chairman of the Jigawa Investment Promotion Agency (InvestJigawa) stated this when he spoke with newsmen in Dutse on Thursday.
The workshop was conducted on April 19 and April 20.
“The sensitisation is conveyed by InvestJigawa and is specifically on the Gagarawa sugar project which is being undertaken by Mr Lee.
“And the whole idea is to sensitise the people of Gagarawa to make them understand more the objectives of the project and the kind of benefits they will derive from it.
“It is also to sensitise them on their right, they have the right to know a number of things and we have the responsibility of informing them about what happens in those places.
And the major objective is to sensitize them, explain to them what we are doing, explain to them the benefits, explain to them their rights and to give them an opportunity to ask questions.
“And whatever they want to know, we shall answer them,’’ Sagagi said.
He explained that two representatives from each of the affected communities were selected to participate in the exercise.
The vice chairman added that each of the communities was advised to nominate their representatives.
“Two representatives from each of the 16 communities participated in the sensitisation workshop.
“And each community was advised to nominate it’s representatives as we don’t just want one person like a chairman or district head to speak on behalf on the whole community.
“The whole idea is to enable each community to identify its challenges concerning the project and put them forward.
“So each of the 16 communities is being represented and is expected to mention its problems,’’ he added.
According to him, all those whose farmlands were affected by the project, were identified and given identification cards.
“The head of each community will come and identify that person before he/she gets the identity card.
“So first, we established their identities and there is a compensation rate that is applicable to all lands in Jigawa state and that was what was applied.
“But the Jigawa state government went further, that it was not only giving them monetary compensation.
“We are saying that if we take over your land, first of all we pay compensation, secondly, you will be given another portion of land somewhere within the vicinity of the project to produce sugarcane to sell to Mr Lee, who is going to produce sugar.
“You can also produce other produce like beans or whatever you wish to.
Sagagi further stated that the Lee Group was allocated with 12,000 hectares of land for the project.
He pointed out that while the group would utilise 6,000 hectares for its production, the dislodged communities would use the other 6,000 hectares for an outgrower scheme.
“So, although we have taken over your land and paid you compensation, you are still allowed to use 50 per cent of that land.
“Because what has happened was that Mr Lee asked for twelve thousand hectares and we’ve given him.
“He is going to utilise six thousand hectares for his production then he asked the communities that have been dislodged to farm on the other six thousand hectares on an outgrower scheme and he will buy their produce from them.
“And in addition to that, the Governor had directed the Ministry of Lands to also give them portions of lands for their own use again.
“So you get compensated, you get encouragement and support to produce on the land and then you have another piece of land outside the place for your personal use.
“And this is something that has never ever happened anywhere in this country.
“This is the first time that a state governor is doing this because he thinks it not proper to dislodge and take people’s livelihoods away from them and move them to an unknown destination.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Jigawa government had in 2017, inaugurated a larger sensitisation committee to educate the benefiting communities on the project.
NAN recalls that peasant farmers in 36 communities in the state had threatened to relocate to other states if the state government carried out its plan to lease 12,000 hectares of their farmlands to the Chinese businessman.
The angry villagers, who hail from Gwiwa, Taura, Gagarawa, and Sule Tankarkar local government areas of the state, got wind of the state government’s intention to rent their lands to Mr Lee, following an agreement with the government for the cultivation of sugar cane by the Chinese businessman.
NAN also reports that the Chinese company plans to use N39.2 billion to establish a sugar company in Kaugama Local Government Area of the state. (NAN)
MNB/PIO/PIO
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(Edited by Idonije Obakhedo)