News
Review Forest Farming Policy, Ondo Cocoa Farmers Beg Aiyedatiwa

The cocoa farmers in Ondo State have appealed to the state Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to review the planned forest farming policy of the state to enable them to stay in the business.
It was gathered that under the proposed framework, each farmer would be required to pay a levy of N250,000 per hectare, N150,000 for polygon mapping and N100,000 for agro-forestry with a farming permit valid for only five years.
According to the concerned farmers, the proposed policy, though well-intentioned, would pose several challenges to them in terms of affordability to pay the amounts.
The farmers, in a letter made available to our correspondent on Tuesday, and addressed to the governor by their lawyer, Olugbenga Oke-Samuel, appealed to the state government to review the forest farming policy.
READ ALSO:Firm Secures $50bn Funding For Ondo Refinery, Free Trade Zone Project
The letter read in parts, “We write on behalf of our clients, the indigenous cocoa farmers operating within the forest areas of Idanre and Akure, to respectfully seek your compassionate intervention regarding the newly proposed Government Policy on farming activities in forest reserves, particularly the Polygon Mapping initiative and the Agro-Forestry programme, introduced in compliance with the European Union’s Deforestation Regulation.
“While our clients appreciate the state government’s commitment to environmental sustainability and global trade standards, the financial and structural implications of the policy are deeply burdensome and threaten their livelihoods.
“Under the proposed framework, each farmer is required to pay a levy of N250,000 per hectare, N150,000 for polygon mapping and N100,000 for Agro-Forestry with a farming permit valid for only five years. This policy, though well-intentioned, presents several critical challenges.
“Some of the challenges the farmers would face in the new policy, according to the letter, include economic hardship, disparity in mapping costs, agro-forestry charges and infrastructure burden, among others.
READ ALSO:Two Suspected Internet Fraudsters Arrested In Ondo For ₦11m Scam
“In light of the above, our clients respectfully request a downward review of the N250,000 per hectare levy to reflect the economic realities of peasant farmers. Subsidisation or full sponsorship of the polygon mapping exercise to ease compliance with EUDR.
“An extension of the farming permit to at least 50 years, allowing farmers to fully benefit from their long-term investment in cocoa cultivation. A review of Agro-Forestry charges to align with the actual market costs of tree planting.
“Your Excellency, our clients believe in your commitment to equity, sustainability, and inclusive development. We trust that you will consider their plight and act in the interest of fairness and economic justice,” the letter concluded.
It was earlier reported that the cocoa farmers farming in the forest reserves in Odigbo Local Government Area of the state staged a protest on the plan by an agro-firm to take their land.
However, the Aiyedatiwa-led administration, in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Ebenezer Adeniyan, said some of the farmers were occupying part of the forest, saying an investigation was ongoing to identify genuine farmers with verifiable claims, separate from speculators and unlawful occupants.
News
Delta-billionaire Lawuru To Grace Ijaw Media Conference As Guest Of Honour

The President of Egbema Brotherhood, Alaowei Promise Lawuru, is expected to grace the forthcoming Ijaw Media Conference 2025, as a guest of honour.
The event is scheduled to hold on December 3rd, 2025, in Warri, Delta State.
The annual media conference organised by the Ijaw Publishers Forum with the theme ‘Safeguarding Niger Delta’s Natural Resources for Future Generations,’ is second edition of the series.
Lawuru, youthful politician and businessman’s willingness to appear as guest of honour was made known
when a delegation of the Central Working Committee led by Pastor Arex Akemotubo paid him a visit to inform him of the forthcoming event and his expected role.
READ ALSO:IPF Holds Annual Ijaw Media Conference December
In his presentation, Akemotubo explained that this year’s theme was chosen out of concern for the growing strain on the region’s land and waters.
The Publisher of WaffiTV stressed that the forum wants to strengthen public understanding, support honest reportage, and encourage leaders to protect what the Niger Delta holds for the next generation.
He addex that Lawuru’s history of service and steady involvement in community work made him a natural choice for the role.
READ ALSO:IPF Commends Tompolo’s Commitment To Security In Delta, Nigeria
Chief Lawuru welcomed the invitation and spoke warmly about the need for shared responsibility among stakeholders and groups such as the IPF.
He commended the forum for using the media to defend the region’s interests and promised full support for the conference.
Lawuru further urged other stakeholders across the Ijaw nation to lend their weight to efforts that safeguard the environment.
News
Senate Recommends Death Penalty For Kidnappers

The Senate has passed a resolution classifying kidnapping as an act of terrorism, stipulating that an amendment to the Terrorism Act be made to impose the maximum penalty of death.
The resolution was made during plenary on Wednesday.
Under the new law, according to the upper legislative arm, once a kidnapping conviction is established, the death penalty must be applied.
Nigeria suffers from a persistent security crisis fuelled by attacks and violence by “bandit” gangs that raid villages, kill people, and kidnap for ransom.
READ ALSO:Senate Uncovers $300bn Unaccounted Crude Oil Sales
In response to recent kidnappings and attacks by terrorists, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday ordered a total security cordon over the forests in Kwara State.
Series Of Abductions
Bandits had struck the Isapa community of the Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, abducting 11 residents.
The attack came about two weeks after and 38 worshippers were abducted from a Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) in the Eruku community of the state.
Terrorists also attacked St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools, Papiri, in Niger State, abducting more that 300 school children and staff in a resurgence of the mass kidnappings that have long harrowed Africa’s most populous country.
READ ALSO:Bill To Establish Federal Oil And Gas Hospital In Delta Scales Second Reading In Senate
In the same week, 24 schoolgirls were taken from the Government Comprehensive Girls Secondary School, Maga, Danko Wasagu Local Government Area in Kebbi State, but regained freedom on Tuesday.
At least 50 taken from St Mary’s Catholic school also managed to escape, but more than 265 children and teachers are still being held.
Nigeria’s high-profile mass kidnapping was that of the Chibok schoolgirls in 2014, when Boko Haram forced 276 girls from their dormitories in the North-East region.
More than a decade later, man of the Chibok girls are still missing.
News
FG Threatens To Seize Dana Air Assets

The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, has disclosed that the Federal Government may recover and sell the assets of Dana Air to refund passengers and travel agents whose funds remain trapped following the suspension of the airline’s operations.
The Minister disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday at the Ministry’s fourth quarter stakeholders’ engagement to enhance governance for effective service delivery in aviation with the theme: “leveraging public feedback to drive excellence in aviation services”.
According to him, the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) will be directed to probe why funds trapped by the airline are yet to be refunded.
He revealed that the Authority suspended the operations of the airline as a matter of choice between safety and disaster.
READ ALSO:NCAA Petitions IGP Over KWAM 1’s Unruly Conduct In Abuja Airport
“For Dana, the problem is that it was a choice between safety and disaster. So we didn’t take the commercial thing as priority. The priority was safety, and we all looked at the damning reports that we had met on the table.
“It was a decision of the NCAA to suspend them, but I pushed them to say, look, these are the reports we are seeing on the table about safety record, about lack of standards that put the lives of Nigerians at risk. If they continue flying, I don’t know whether most of us will be here. Many of us would have been victims of one of those flights. God forbid.”
According to him, “I have asked Najomo to dig deep to find out how those passengers and agents will be refunded. He has to dig deep on that.
“One solution will also be that if that same individual or those entities are trying to come back to aviation under any guise, whether to go and register a new AOC or use any business within the aviation sector, they have to go and settle their debts first.
READ ALSO:NCAA Seeks K1 De Ultimate’s Arrest, Petitions AGF, IG
“We should look at their assets. There are assets that are still available. Let them sell their assets. Let’s cannibalize their revenue and pay people. Let’s find a way to go after their assets and get money to pay Nigerians who are owed.
“NCAA should do that because they can’t get away with it.”
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