Women Group Expresses Worry over Effect of Edo Industrial Plantation Policies

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Women Impacted by Industrial Plantation Expansion have expressed worry over creation of policies and transfer of land without the engagement of women, saying it affects them and their dependants.

The women in a protest cum rally codenamed: “Women Led Action Against Deforestation, Land-grabbing and Gender Rights Violations Associated with the Industrial Plantation Model”, was themed: ‘Women’s Rights are Human Rights. Plantations are not Forests.’

The protest was organised under the auspices of Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria, ERA/FoEN, on Tuesday, to mark the 2022 International Day of Struggle Against Monoculture Tree Plantations observed globally on every September 21.

The women led by Mrs. Gladys Osaghae, who took their protest/rally to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Benin City, called on government at all levels to support and invest in communities and women-led solution such as agroecology which, according to them, support food production and local food economy.

 Osaghae who led the women from Odiguetue, Ekosa, Ologbo and Obaretin communities of Edo State, also submitted a petition to the state Chairman of NUJ, Mr. Festus Alenghe.

The petition reads in part: “Stop new concession agreement that clears out forest at the detriment of women and those that fall under our care.

“Our forest is our life. Support the creation of economic livelihood alternatives for industrial plantation impacted women and their families.

“Enact legislative and regulatory reforms that strengthen women’s rights related to the expansion of industrial plantation.

“Join voices with women around Africa and the world to denounce any violation, abuse, intimidation, harassment and violence against women in the industrial plantation model across all communities territories,” the petition added.

Earlier during a rally, ERA/FoEN, Executive Director Chima Williams, alleged that the  industrial plantation expansion in Edo State has  subjected women to untold hardship as a result of their activities in their environment.

According to Chima, the International Day of Struggle Against Monoculture Tree Plantations, is a day for groups, organisations, networks and movements to celebrate resistance and raise their voices to demand, “Stop the Expansion of Monoculture Tree Plantations!.

ERA/FoEN Executive Director said the environmental rights action is committed to protecting the Edo State environments and the rights of the citizens.

He said: “We in the environmental organisation are poised in joining the women in fighting against any kind of human rights violations by oil palm companies or any other company trying to deprive or displace the women from their farmland thereby subjecting them and their children to untold hardship.

“We will continue to join forces with women to also denounce abuse, intimidation, harassment and violence against them in the industrial plantation model across all community territories”.

While stating that no individual including ERA/FoEN can single handedly do such work, Chima sought partnership from the NUJ and Edo State Government, saying, “with a collaborative efforts, Edo environments and the rights of her citizens would be surely protected.

Also, ERA/FoEN Programme Manager, Forest & Biodiversity, Rita Uwaka, lamented the grave impacts of deforestation to the environment, saying “it affects men and women but it has more aggravated impact on women because they continue to be connected to food productions.”

Receiving the petition, the Edo NUJ chairman,  Alenkhe said women depend on forest and farmlands for their survival and wellbeing of their families.

He therefore, urged oil palm companies operating in the state to obey labour laws which state that a certain percentage of employment should be given to indigenes of the communities they operate, just as he called on the companies to obey rights of their host communities and stop any form of human rights violations.

Alenkhe, while thanking ERA/FoEN for taking such responsibility, called on other NGOs domiciled in the state to emulate the group by standing for citizens rights.

He also tasked companies in various host communities to honour the international labour law, just as he asked them to carry out their social responsibility so as to  reduce the burdens on them.