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Residents of Etomi community in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State staged a protest on Wednesday against the state government’s planned privatisation of a cocoa estate located in the community.
The protesters demanded an immediate reversal of the plan.
Thousands of smallholder farmers participated in the peaceful demonstration, displaying placards with inscriptions such as: “Our cocoa estate is not for sale,” “We say no to the planned privatisation of our cocoa estate,” and “Do not deprive us of our rights.”
Speaking to PUNCH Online on behalf of the protesters, community leader, Mr. Mbek Agbor-Tangban, warned the state government not to violate the terms of a longstanding agreement made with their forefathers, which led to the donation of the land now used for cocoa cultivation.
“Government ought to have consulted us as the host community, given the vast expanse of land we donated. Whatever happens to that estate, we are the first to be affected,” Agbor-Tangban said.
He cited a publication in The Nigerian Chronicle dated June 25, 2025, indicating that the Cross River State Privatisation Council had advertised tenders for interested bidders to take over the estate.
“We became agitated because the government intends to privatise the estate despite the original agreement. That agreement clearly states that if the government wishes to privatise or sublet the estate, the host community must be consulted first. We should be given the right of first refusal. Only if we are unable to bid should the estate be advertised,” he added.
Etomi women’s leader, Ntunkai Mary-Ndum, stated that if the government was no longer interested in continuing the smallholder farmer scheme cherished by the community, it should remove its cocoa trees and return the land to the people.
Youth leader, Abang Shikina-Oji, also expressed concern, urging the government to reconsider the plan, warning that privatisation would disadvantage the host community.
“Our grandparents donated this land to the Okpara administration in 1957 with an agreement that accommodated smallholder farmers. What we fear most is that privatisation will leave many of our youth unemployed,” he said.
In response, the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, and the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, assured the community that Governor Bassey Otu’s administration would not take any action against the people’s interests.
“The governor will address all concerns. He is open to reviewing any policy that causes distress. His primary concern is the welfare of the people,” he stated, urging the community to remain calm as the matter is being reviewed.
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