Stakeholders from Borum in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State have called for peace and understanding over the ongoing concerns surrounding the PRESCO oil palm investment in the community.
The stakeholders, led by Chief Enu Caesar, said there was a need to correct what they described as misinformation about the investment, particularly claims that PRESCO was taking away community land.
In a public enlightenment statement titled “Setting the Record Straight: Landlords Have Nothing to Lose: PRESCO Is a Developer, Not an Extractor,” Chief Enu and the Boki Pragmatic Stakeholders/SAIDI argued that PRESCO should be seen as an agricultural developer rather than an extractive company.
According to the statement, unlike companies that extract crude oil and leave after removing the natural resource, PRESCO's business involves developing oil palm plantations, nurturing the trees and maintaining long-term agricultural production.
The stakeholders said the oil palm plantation could provide a long-term economic opportunity for the people of Borum and Boki through employment, business activities, taxes and other forms of development.
Land Allocation Should Be Addressed With Government
Chief Enu said another important issue that needed to be made clear was the question of land ownership and compensation.
He stated that the land for the investment was allocated through the Cross River State Government, and therefore people with concerns about land boundaries, compensation, royalties or other land-related matters should take their complaints to the appropriate government authorities.
The statement specifically mentioned the Cross River State Ministry of Lands and Survey, Office of the Surveyor General and the Office of the Governor or relevant land authorities as places where such matters should be addressed.
The stakeholders warned against blocking the entrance of the PRESCO estate, destroying seedlings, threatening workers or carrying arms in the name of defending community land.
They described such actions as dangerous and capable of affecting the investment and the wider economy of the community.
Stakeholders Ask Government to Clarify Compensation and Royalty
While backing the investment, the group also called on the Cross River State Government to provide clear information on compensation, royalty and other benefits that may concern families and communities affected by the project.
They said transparency would help to reduce tension and allow both the investors and the host communities to understand their responsibilities.
The stakeholders also urged PRESCO to make its Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR, plans for Borum and Boki known to the public.
Among the areas they want the company to focus on are employment for local youths, scholarships, healthcare, water supply, rehabilitation of schools and skills acquisition for women.
Call for Local Jobs and Out-Grower Scheme
The statement also proposed an out-grower arrangement that could allow local landlords to participate directly in oil palm production.
Under the proposal, landlords could be supported to cultivate oil palm on smaller portions of land and eventually sell their fresh fruit bunches to PRESCO.
The stakeholders said such an arrangement could give local people an opportunity to benefit from the investment beyond employment.
They also called for respect for sacred places and existing community agreements.
Warning Against Actions That Could Scare Investors
Chief Enu and the group warned that continued confrontation around the investment could discourage PRESCO and other potential investors from doing business in Boki.
They argued that if an investor leaves because of persistent conflict, the community could lose possible employment opportunities and other economic benefits.
They therefore appealed to landlords and youths to protect the investment while using peaceful and lawful channels to raise genuine complaints.
According to the statement, the community should not reject development simply because there are disagreements over land or other issues.
Stakeholders' Call to Government, PRESCO and Youths
The group made separate appeals to the major parties involved.
They called on landlords to take land and royalty complaints to the government rather than confronting PRESCO workers.
They asked the Cross River State Government to establish a dedicated Land and Royalty Resolution Desk for PRESCO-Boki where affected landlords could present their concerns and receive clear answers.
PRESCO was urged to publish its CSR plan for Borum and Boki and increase the number of local people employed in the project.
The youths were also encouraged to protect the investment and see the plantation as a possible source of employment and economic opportunities.
Chief Enu said the ultimate goal should be to ensure that the PRESCO investment benefits both the company and the people of Borum and Boki.
“PRESCO did not come to extract. PRESCO came to develop. Let us develop Boki together,” the statement said.
The stakeholders' position comes amid concerns in parts of Boki over land, community benefits and the presence of large-scale agricultural investment in the area. They maintained that genuine grievances should be addressed through dialogue and the appropriate government institutions rather than confrontation.
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