Deal #3074 Version #58595

communities of the Biase, Ibiae and Calaro

The communities of the Biase, Ibiae and Calaro plantations were not consulted and have not given their consent for the project. They were excluded from the consultation between the company and the local chiefs. These communities state that they have not received any agreement from Wilmar-- many communities insist that although they have been told that an MOU exists, they have not seen it and do not know the content of the MOU, especially how it affects their community. The community was not fully informed about the positive and negative impacts from the investment. The people of Ekong Anaku Village state that they were not consulted when 10 000 hectares was cleared by Obasanjo Farms, owned by the President Olusegun Obasanjo. In 2012 the company sold the lands to Wilmar International, illegally according to the villagers. The villagers now have three basic demands: the existing plantation must be operated as a partnership; there can be no expansion beyond the areas that have already been cleared for planting; and, the government must identify and provide the village with an alternative area of land of equal size where they can farm. The villagers state that Wilmar attempted to consult the villagers once the land had been purchased, however this was largely viewed as not genuine by the community. Finally consultation took place between the company and the local chiefs only, behind closed doors.

Local communities have established a “Community Forest Watch” in which community members analyze the socioeconomic impacts of Wilmar’s plantations, conduct resource mapping and land and forest surveys in order to fend off trespassers, and develop proposals for reparations and environmental remediation. In 2019, members of the host communities formally demanded the return of their farmlands, which were acquired by the company without the consent of the affected communities; payment of compensation to them for loss of livelihoods and environmental rights; and the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the company as they are not privy to the one that the company claims currently exists.

In the village of Ibogo , the local community saw their farmland being excavated, which they have been farming for decades. They grew plantains, bananas, cocoa and vegetables. In the village of Betem, the water supply was severely damaged and polluted by PZ Wilmar's operations. Estimates of total number of community members displaced ranges from 20 000 to 100 000.

In the village of Ibogo , the local community saw their farmland being excavated, which they have been farming for decades. They grew plantains, bananas, cocoa and vegetables. In the village of Betem, the water supply was severely damaged and polluted by PZ Wilmar's operations. Estimates of total number of community members displaced ranges from 20 000 to 100 000. Affected communities report that they are forced to live in a polluted environment, exposed to air and water pollution, use of hazardous plantation chemicals, waste from oil palm milling sites and the large refinery, ploughing and grading of the soil and intensive application of agrochemicals.

Annual royalty fee of N500 per hectare- however it is not clear who gets this money.

Some communities state that their land has been taken however no compensation has been received to date.

Access to potable water, housing and training for local farmers.

No benefits have been received by the farmers as of May 2015.

The affected people and their support networks have engaged with the media by organising a media tour and advocacy visit to the affected places. They also testified against the company in a public hearing organised by the Cross River State House of Assembly with the participation of Wilmar Pz.