Women in some oil palm-rich communities in Cross River have decried lack of inclusiveness in land allocation and resources governance in the state.
The women, mostly from Akamkpa and Biase, said this has adversely affected rural people and impacted negatively on their standard of living.
The spokesperson of the women, Philomena Umoh, who made this known after a two-day capacity building workshop at Akamkpa Local Government with the theme, “Capacity Building on Gender Mainstreaming to Enhance Gender Inclusiveness in Communities,” said lack of inclusiveness in land allocation, acquisition and land resources governance is the major cause of dissatisfaction among community people.
According to her: “Women have been seen to be without alternative means of livelihood as they don’t have access to roads, farmlands, rights to land, money to purchase or rent land for farming.
“These have adversely affected the rural people through livelihood sustainability option loss, unemployment, loss of income generation sources and low standard of living.
“Women and community members have lost their major sources of water for domestic, cooking and drinking purposes as a result of activities of Greenfield agricultural companies like Wilmer”, she said.
She emphasised that the rights of the people must be protected, which include their land and associated resources, particularly those of women who are seen to be the less- privileged gender in our communities.
In a communique, the women called for greater involvement in decision making, empowerment, equal rights to own land and compensation by Greenfield agricultural companies.
A section of the women in a group photograph after the workshop at Akamkpa Local Government Area, Cross River State.
