Communities in Okitipupa and Odigbo Local Government Areas of Ondo State have accused a forestry company operating in their areas of abandoning its corporate social responsibility (CSR) obligations and disregarding directives issued by the state government.
Leaders of the affected communities alleged that the firm, identified as Rex Forestry Limited, has failed to meet the terms of its concession agreement under the Ondo State Afforestation Project, despite repeated appeals from community representatives and government officials.
The communities involved include Korede, Adewinle, Ago-Oyinbo, Ago-Alafia, Oloruntedo, Ayetoro, Mobolorunduro and Mile 49 in Okitipupa Local Government Area, as well as Kajola Community in Odigbo Local Government Area.
Speaking at a meeting of community leaders, Chief Kehinde Oloruntobi said the company has continued to undermine the welfare of its host communities and ignore the authority of the Ondo State Government, even though it operates under a concession for sustainable forestry management.
Oloruntobi referenced a concession agreement reportedly signed on August 17, 2021, between the Ondo State Government and Rex Forestry Limited, which he said clearly outlines the firm’s responsibilities to its host communities. According to him, the agreement requires the company to allocate one per cent of its annual budget to CSR projects, prioritise the employment of local indigenes, promote education and sanitation, provide skills training and adhere to sustainability standards.
“This agreement is very clear on the responsibilities of the company to its host communities, yet these provisions have been repeatedly violated,” Oloruntobi said.
He alleged that the firm has employed external labour at the expense of qualified local youths, appointed a non-indigene as community liaison officer and failed to set aside the mandatory one per cent of its annual budget for CSR initiatives. He also accused the company of neglecting education, sanitation and skills acquisition programmes in the affected communities.
Oloruntobi further recalled a meeting with the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, Leye Akinola, which reportedly produced a seven-point agenda aimed at resolving the dispute. The agenda, he said, included the employment of community indigenes, award of contracts to locals, transparent accounting of CSR funds and the placement of qualified indigenes in top management positions.
According to him, the company has failed to comply with the resolutions reached at the meeting held in Akure.
Warning of possible unrest, youth leader Sunday Aro said continued inaction could threaten peace in the area. He called on the Ondo State Government, under Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, to intervene urgently to ensure the company complies with its contractual and social obligations.
Meanwhile, the affected communities have formally written to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Forestry, outlining unresolved issues from the earlier peace meeting and demanding decisive action by the state government
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