Protest rocks C’River Community Over Govt’s  plans to privatize Cocoa Estates  

From Ene Asuquo, Calabar 

The people of Etomi Community in Etung local government area of Cross River State took to the streets in a peaceful protest over the State Government’s intentions to Privatize five Cocoa Estates in the State.

The protesters mainly youths of the  Community carried Placards with inscriptions, “Commissioner for agriculture and irrigation don’t sale our Cocoa Estate”, ” our land is not for sale” don’t deprive us our means of livelihood” and Chanting” “we no go gree, “we no go gree”

The protest followed a recent Publication in the State own Newspaper, the Nigerian Chronicle, dated  25th June, 2025 by the Cross River State Council on Privatization calling for Application from investors in the five Government Cocoa Estates in the State which includes, Ikom Cocoa Estate,(ICE), Cross River Forest and Cocoa Project, Abonita Cocoa Estate, Abia/Bendeghe Cocoa Estate (EBCE) and Boje Cocoa  Estate all cited in different parts of the State 

Speaking to journalists, a Community leader, Mbek Agbo Tangban said, “we gave so much of our land for Cocoa establishment in the state, all our land are being used to plant Cocoa, so if government want to Privatized, from our agreement they should have contacted us as the host landlord”

Tangban said when they saw the advertorial in the Nigerian Chronicle, they as one of the host communities were agitated because according to him there was an agreement between the community and the government which they have failed to honour.

In his reaction, the youth leader of Etomi Community, Abang Shekina Oji said they were not comfortable with the plan Privatization because it is going to take away their source of livelihood from them 

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” According to him, ” when we heard about the plan Privatization by the government, we mobilize are youths for a peaceful protest because if they Privatize, we would be left empty, we have families and old parents to take care of and Cocoa farming is everything for us here” he maintained.

“Government should remember that there was an agreement, they should respect that agreement, the small holder’s farmers should be allowed to continue”

” We are calling on the governor to come in to this matter because we know some people are doing this without the knowledge of our governor, he maintained”.

” The women leader of the community, Ntunkae Mary Ndum appealed to the government to shelve the planned Privatization because Cocoa farming is all that sustains them”.

” In 2013 Government tried the same thing without our consent,we went to Court and got an injunction restraining the government from carrying on their plan Privatization and also restraining the landlords from entering the estates, after which both parties were to go and dialogue” after then we came up with an agreement he stated.

In their separate remarks, the state commissioners for Agriculture Mr. Johnson Ebokpo and his Information counterpart, Erasmus Ekpang,  stated that the governor whom they know as having the interest of the people at heart will definitely not do anything  that undermines interest of his  people.

“He  will assuage whatever concerns the people have . As I speak,he is ready to  review anything that causes his people pain.We look deep into it ofcourse, His excellency’s primary concern is the people’s first.

“For now we appeal to the aggrieved individuals to remain calm as the governor will look into the matter” Otu’s commissioners maintained.