What began as a government-backed agricultural resettlement scheme has turned into years of hardship and uncertainty for commercial farmers in Afero, Itoikin, in Lagos State’s Epe axis. Accusing the military of forcefully taking over their farmlands and destroying investments worth billions of naira, the farmers say they have been left stranded without compensation, resettlement, or means of livelihood. Their renewed protest highlights the growing tension between land administration, food security, and the survival of local farmers in Nigeria’s economic climate.
For members of the Afero Commercial Farmers Association in Itoikin, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, the dream of building prosperity through agriculture has gradually turned into a prolonged struggle for survival.
On Wednesday, the farmers again took to the streets in protest, demanding urgent intervention from the Lagos State Government over what they described as the unlawful seizure of their farmlands by the military — a development they say has kept them out of business for nearly three years.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Gov Sanwo-Olu, three years without commercial farming activities is a sentence to poverty” and “Food security starts with farmers, don’t kill them,” the protesters accused authorities of abandoning them after their farms were allegedly destroyed during a military operation in December 2023.
According to the farmers, the disputed land was not illegally occupied. Rather, they insist it was officially allocated to them by the Lagos State Government during the administration of former governor Babatunde Fashola as compensation for their original farmland acquired for the proposed Epe International Airport project.
What was intended as a fresh start in commercial agriculture, however, soon became another chapter of displacement.
Chairman of the Afero Commercial Farmers Association, Mr. Wale Orekoya, said the military invasion of the farmland came as a devastating blow to farmers who had invested heavily in cash crops including oil palm, cocoa, and rubber.
“This is the third year since the military seized our farms, claiming ownership of the land,” Orekoya told journalists during the protest in Ikeja.
He explained that after the initial acquisition of their former farmland for public use, members accepted relocation in good faith and committed substantial resources to developing the new land allocated to them at Itoikin.
But before the farmers could fully stabilise operations, they began facing recurring invasions by suspected land grabbers, popularly known as Omo Onile. According to Orekoya, the situation worsened dramatically when the military later moved into the area, destroying crops and infrastructure while reclaiming the land.
The farmers claimed their investments lost in the process exceed N3 billion.
“We had our land before the state government displaced us. We spent huge amounts developing the new farmland — fencing, planting crops, and setting up commercial operations,” Orekoya said.
“Is it the fence we are talking about? Is it the crops? Is it the cash crops of oil palm, rubber, and cocoa that we planted?”
For many of the affected farmers, the losses go beyond agriculture.
Orekoya revealed that several members invested their pensions, gratuities, and life savings into farming after retirement, while others secured bank loans using their homes as collateral.
Now, with farming activities suspended and incomes wiped out, many are reportedly battling depression, mounting debts, and deteriorating health conditions.
“Some members are surviving only through the goodwill of neighbours,” he said.
“Others are at risk of losing their homes because they cannot repay loans obtained to establish their farms.”
The association also claimed that more than 1,000 workers lost their jobs following the displacement, while two farmers have reportedly died amid the prolonged hardship.
Despite staging an earlier protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly in January 2024, the farmers say little progress has been made.
According to Orekoya, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had earlier acknowledged the dispute and reportedly promised intervention after discovering that the land allocated to the farmers might have belonged to the military.
The state government subsequently constituted a committee involving the Commissioner for Agriculture and the Attorney-General to review the matter.
While the farmers commended the move, they expressed frustration over the continued delay in implementing the committee’s recommendations.
“We understand the committee has completed its assignment and submitted its report,” Orekoya said.
“All we ask is for the governor to prioritise the review so this matter can finally be resolved.”
The farmers insist they deserve both compensation for destroyed investments and fresh land for resettlement.
They also referenced the 1978 Land Use Act, arguing that the state government acted within its constitutional powers when allocating the land to them.
Interestingly, Orekoya disclosed that when representatives of the association visited the Defence Headquarters in Abuja to seek clarification, military authorities reportedly redirected them to the Lagos State Government.
“The military told us they had no issue with us and advised us to meet with our governor,” he said.
That response, according to the farmers, reinforced their belief that the responsibility for resolving the dispute now rests squarely with the Lagos State Government.
Beyond the personal losses, the situation raises broader concerns about food security and agricultural investment in Nigeria.
At a time when governments across the country are encouraging commercial agriculture as a pathway to economic diversification and food sufficiency, the Afero farmers argue that unresolved land disputes and displacement send the wrong message to investors and young Nigerians interested in farming.
For the protesters, the appeal is simple: restore their livelihoods, compensate their losses, and allow them to return to productive farming.
“Three years out of business in this harsh economic climate is unacceptable,” Orekoya lamented.
“We want the government to fulfil its promise so we can return to productive activities and continue contributing to food production in Lagos State and Nigeria.”
