AfriLaw launches Community- Base Human Rights Research Report in Benin

By Elvis Omoregie


A Non Governmental Organization (NGO) under the aegis of Afrilaw, has successfully launched an advocacy report in Benin City, titled "The Community-Base Research On Human Rights Violation In The Oil Palm Supply Chain In Edo State Of Nigeria".

According to the organizers, the main objective was to conduct a community - based research and gather evidence of violations of community rights by major palm-oil companies operating in Edo State, Nigeria. 

It's hoped that the report will provide the basis for advocacy and engagement to address the increasing rate of conflicts and human rights violations by palm oil companies operating in host communities in Edo state and other communities across Nigeria.

Giving the reason for the event, the Founder/ CEO), African Law Foundation (AFRILAW) Okereke Chinwike Esq, said they were in Benin City to launched their recent publication on a Community-Base Human Rights Research in Palm Oil Supply Chain in partnership with the human rights commission Abuja.

He said the research is to look at the issues of human rights and palm oil business industry in Nigeria especially in Edo state being one of the leading states in Palm oil business.

Mr Okereke said "We are using this report or medium to emphasize to government and stakeholders to understand that human rights are important in business that any business that's done in disrespect or disregard of human rights can't be sustain or sustainable".

Speaking at the launching of the programme, the researcher of "the community-based research report on human rights violation in the palm oil supply chain in Edo State", Dr. Uyi Ojo said the aggressive tendencies for multinational companies to acquire farm lands for their palm oil plantations have made farmers to be short of places to cultivate their crops, thereby leading to hunger and starvation in most communities.

He blamed these multinational companies of using the military and other security agencies to intimidate their host communities.

Dr. Ojo further resolved that for the companies to get it right, there must be a mechanism put in place to always address issues of conflicts whenever they arise to avoid them snowballing into a major crisis.

Also speaking the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Anthony Okechukwu OjukwuMr. Ojukwu, represented by the deputy director legal, NHRC, Mrs.Pwadumi Okoh, said the era where multinational companies go to their host communities, acquire all their farm lands without adequately involving them with the view of stating their demands, is far gone adding that the federal government is working assiduously to end it.

"You know, one of the things we want to also bring to the fore in the course of this event is the fact that the government, the National Human Rights Commission in collaboration with other stakeholders have developed a document called the National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights. 

"And that document is supposed to help businesses mainstream human rights in their operation. You know, it's good that people have CSR, corporate social responsibility, government or businesses carry out corporate social responsibility but we want to say, go beyond corporate social responsibility that we feel it looks like a tokenism.

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