By Kelvin Obambon
The Cross River State government has approved N86 million as royalties for cocoa landlord communities in Etung, marking a historic first-time payment of such huge amount.
This was disclosed during a meeting between officials of the state government and representatives of Cocoa Landlord Communities, held on Thursday, November 13 at the Council of Chiefs Chamber in Calabar.
Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Anthony Owan Enoh, who briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting, explained that the purpose of the meeting was to resolve disputes arising around the sharing formula for the approved funds.
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He said, “We’ve never had N20 million in the history of cocoa in Etung, but for the first time, the government approved N86 million.”
Prof. Enoh stressed that due to the substantial amount, concerns had emerged about the size of land each community contributed to cocoa production. To ensure fairness, he said a committee was set up for the eight officially recognized cocoa landlord communities to authenticate their land contributions, and other claims.
“Every community brings forward the volume of land contributed to the government. That will now give a sharing formula for the money,” he added.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Irrigation Development, Hon. Johnson Ebokpo, urged the cocoa landlord communities to collaborate with the committee to ensure a seamless, transparent and fair process that would be beneficial and acceptable by all.
Paramount Ruler of Etung Local Government Area, HRM Amb. Anthony Ntui-Atue, welcomed the initiative and urged unity, stating that “We have settled ourselves and agreed that this royalty shouldn’t bring disunity among us.”
He also acknowledged ongoing arrears in payments from past administrations but expressed gratitude to Governor Bassey Otu’s commitment. “We are thanking this very government for this singular act. During the campaign, he promised us he’s going to pay and he has done it.”
Secretary of the cocoa landlord communities, Barr. Hollis Bassey Isong, expressed immense gratitude to the state governor, describing the approval of funds for payment of landlord communities as a magnanimous and kind gesture. He affirmed that no governor in the past had ever released such a huge amount of money to cocoa landlord communities.
Meanwhile, secretary of the newly formed committee, Barr. Gilbert Agbor, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, assured that the committee would conclude its work within two weeks, as mandated.
He also confirmed that royalty payments would continue as long as the government remains in office, remarking that “His Excellency said it’s a season of sweetness. Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar.”
The committee is chaired by Dr Odey Ikongha, permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation Development. Members of the committee are drawn from the eight cocoa landlord communities in Etung.
The meeting was attended by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Chieftaincy Affairs, Sir Francis Edet, among others.
