By Charles Pemu 
Thousands of smallholder farmers from Etomi in Etung Local Government Area of Cross River State staged a massive protest on Tuesday, voicing strong opposition to the state government’s alleged plans to privatize the community’s cocoa estate.
Bearing placards with bold inscriptions such as “We Say No to Planned Privatization of Our Cocoa Estate,” “Our Cocoa Estate Is Not for Sale,” and “Do Not Deprive Us of Our Rights,” the protestors made up of elderly residents, youths, and women marched through the streets of Etomi to express their discontent.
Addressing the crowd, a prominent community leader, Mr. Mbek Agbor-Tangban, warned the state government against breaching a long-standing agreement made with their forefathers. According to him, the land for the cocoa estate was donated by their grandparents in 1957 during the Michael Okpara administration, under a clear understanding that the estate would be managed for the benefit of smallholder farmers in the community.
“We were shocked to see a publication in the Nigerian Chronicle dated June 25, 2025, announcing that the Cross River State Privatization Council is calling for bids to take over our estate. This violates the original agreement which gives the host community priority in any such decision,” Agbor-Tangban said.
He stressed that the agreement mandates the government to consult the Etomi community first before any decision on privatization or subletting of the estate is made. “We, the landlords, were supposed to be the first bidders. Only if we are unable to manage it, should the government proceed to external bidding,” he added.
Echoing his sentiments, Women Leader, Ntunkai Mary-Ndum, called on the government to either maintain the smallholder farming model or vacate the land altogether. “If the state is no longer interested in the community-based model that benefits us, they should transplant their cocoa and leave our land,” she said.
Youth leader Abang Shikina-Oji also expressed grave concern, saying the proposed privatization would plunge many local youths into unemployment. “We are fine with the existing smallholder scheme. If this estate is taken from us, half of our youths will be left jobless. The government should rethink this decision,” he pleaded.
In response to the protest, the Cross River State Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr. Johnson Ebokpo, and Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, reassured the community that Governor Bassey Otu remains committed to the welfare of the people.
They urged the protesters to remain peaceful, promising that the concerns raised would be thoroughly addressed by the state government.