By Ogbebor Tony Ikponmwosa
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensure that oil palm and other Agro commodities are produced sustainably and in accordance with international best practices in the State.
The Acting Team Lead of the Edo State Oil Palm Program (ESOPP), Mr Churchill Oboh, made the assertion at the Africa Palm Oil Initiative (APOI) platform meeting held in Benin City, Edo State.
The meeting, which was called to review the Free Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) guidelines, was attended by representatives of the Edo State Oil Palm Program (ESOPP) investors group, oil palm investors, smallholder oil palm groups, sawmillers, Government ministries and agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), civil society organisations (CSOs) and other stakeholders in the Agro-Forestry sector in the State.
Speaking at the event, Mr Oboh said the FPIC document will be a game changer for investment in the State when passed into law as a subsidiary regulation under the Edo State Investment Promotion Law.
Mr Oboh said: “This document will guide all parties (State, Local Government, Private entities, indigenous peoples and local communities) and ensure their rights are respected prior and during any investment that will guarantee a seamless process by helping each party understand their individual roles.”
The ESOPP Team Lead also noted that the Africa Palm Oil Initiative (APOI) will be transitioning into Africa Sustainable Commodity Initiative (ASCI), which basically means that the platform will not only take into account the sustainability of oil palm but multi-commodities that drive deforestation in the State. He added that the ASCI document was reviewed by representatives of Edo State and other nine West and Central African countries in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire in June 2022 and will be signed by leaders of these countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (CoP27) in Egypt, 2022.
Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director, Edo State Investment Promotion Office (ESIPO), Mr Kelvin Uwaibi, said that the FPIC guidelines are to ensure that there is harmonization among all stakeholders involved in oil palm investment and other commodities like rubber, cocoa and others in Edo State. He asserted that the document would ensure that oil palm and other commodities are produced and cultivated in an ethical and sustainable way.
According to Mr Uwaibi, “The FPIC document is to ensure that all stakeholders; the community, investors, State and the local governments are all carried along, where investors come in to do business in a particular community. The guidelines of this document guarantee that the community is accepting the kind of business that wants to be done and also to ensure that the socio-economic livelihood of the community is sustained and not affected in order to create a ‘plug and play’ situation for investors which has made investing in Edo State easier, faster and better.”
The Head of Legal, Ministry of Finance, Osayamen Mokojwu Esq., said that the Edo State Government is setting the pace and standards for others to follow in oil palm, forestation and other commodities.
In her words “we need to begin to plan for the future, not just for us, but for our citizens where agricultural sustainability, environmental sustainability, skill commodity sustainability is key and we are engaging across platforms; we are looking at the interest of the people, the Government and the environment”.
The General Manager, Saturn Farms and ESOPP investor, Mr Victor Egharevba, commended the Governor Obaseki-led administration for making deliberate efforts at ensuring that the State becomes a global giant in investment, agriculture, industrialization and other socio-economic endeavours. He added that the reviewed FPIC guidelines will help to eradicate clumsiness and clarify all the bottlenecks that have affected investments in the State.
Similarly, the Agricultural Coordinator, Okomu Oil Palm Company, Mr Billy Ghansah, noted that the FPIC guidelines review process is very important as it creates some clarifications for investors as well as for the various host communities. He added that it is creditable that the State Government through the ASCI has identified oil palm and other commodities as drivers of deforestation in the State and that it will help to create a holistic approach in tackling deforestation through forest conservation that will be very beneficial for the future of the State.
