LOST OF FOREST RESERVES TO OKOMU OIL: MAJOR CRISIS LOOMS IN EDO – ERA WARNS

The Environmental Rights Action and Friends of the Earth (ERA/FoEN) has warned of imminent food crises in the State over lost of forest reserves in Edo State.
To avoid critical food shortage in Edo state, ERA/FoEN tasked women in the State to stand up for their rights and resist land grabbing by Okomu oil palm Plc.
Executive Director of ERA/FoEN, Dr. Godwin Uyi-Ojo made this known at a On-Day workshop on Gender inclusiveness tagged: “Making women’s voices count”.
The Environmentalist disclosed that over 60, 000 peasant farmers living at host Communities in Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas of the State have lost their means of livelihoods to deforestation.
He called on Edo State government to comply and enforce the revocation order which the previous government of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole against the multinational company.
He also charged the Okomu Oil company to equally comply with Edo State revocation order without further delay.
“Food prices are rising in the Communities. People are loosing their sources of livelihoods. Okomu oil Plc is laughing to the Bank while the people continue to suffer on a daily basis.
“Today, we have reignited the women formidable force for them to assume leadership position and to demand for their rights including making representation to Okomu Oil Plc as well as government establishment so that we are able to influence policy makers.

“Women must be at the forefront of this struggle.
“When livelihoods and water sources are destroyed without compensation, the women are the people that suffer most from such environmental degredation”, he added.
Also speaking, a former President of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Stella Ojeme, and Benin-based Human Rights activist, Jennifer Ero, challenged women to acquire skills by building capacity.
In their separate presentations on the topic: “women empowerment and advocacy messaging”, the duo, charged women to pay due attention to their education and their Children through hardwork and determination.
But the Executive Director, Foundation for Good Governance and social Justice, Comrade Austin Osakue who gave a brief historical background of gender issues, said: “Gender equality is the men’s battle which women must pursue to advance their rights and respect in society.
Scores of rural women from the state, particularly from communities in Ovia North East, Ovia South West and Uhunwode local government areas.

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Kadiri Christopher

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