Edo state government has approved the revocation of reserved land measuring 101,548 hectares from individuals who failed to meet the terms for which the land was reserved for them.
The government’s position was made known in a release signed by Major Lawrence Loye (Rtd), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities.
“This is to inform the general public that Edo State Government has approved the revocation of all parcels of land measuring 101,548 hectares dereserved in the Forest Reserves for the purpose for which they were released to the beneficiaries (SIC)” the statement read.
“Under this administration, it is unacceptable for any person or bodies to use land released to them for purposes other than for which it was dereserved (SIC).”
The statement also ordered all farmers on the land to seize cultivation on such lands, stating that “all Cocoa farmers and other farmers currently farming on the reserved land and paying royalties or land rent to individuals or third parties are hereby directed to stop such payments forthwith.”
“The said Cocoa farmers and other farmers are hereby further directed to contact the Honorable Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities for regularization of their stay in the aforesaid land.”
“It therefore becomes an offence to intimidate or harass persons that are currently farming on the said revoked land as such will be visited with the full wrath of the law” the statement concluded.