The government of Cross River State has announced that it will deal with any person or group of persons who stand as a clog in the wheel of progress in the management of cocoa estates in the state henceforth.
In a statement signed by Gill Nsa, Chief Press Secretary to Gov Bassey Otu, the government immediately disbanded the suspended Cocoa Allocation
Taskforce and Surveillance Team in the four (4) Government-owned Cocoa Estates in Etung LGA set up by the Cocoa Allocation Committee, including any other group operating under any guise.
The government said culprits will be made to face the Law.
Over 1,300 plot allottees had sued the disbanded Cocoa Allocation task force team in court for illegally evicting them over two months ago.
The allottees had claimed that the state government used their money to clear 16 years of debts.
The court had, however, asked the allottees to stay, pending the determination of the matter. The next hearing will be on the 20th of June.
”The state governor, according to the state, has directed the immediate lifting of suspension on payments of government lease fees to designated banks for one month, effective from 10th June 2024.
“All beneficiaries must confirm their names on the Cocoa Allocation master list with the designated desk officer in the Ministry of Agriculture Ikom, before making payments, as the government will not be held responsible for any erroneous payments.
“The counting of lines per hectare remains the same as the Cocoa Allocation Committee agreed, i.e. 14, 12, 10, 14, 8 lines per hectare, respectively.”
Governor Otu has said his administration is committed to seeing an end to unnecessary squabbles and infractions in the management of State-owned Cocoa estates.
Cross River govt to punish anyone standing against cocoa management