Afero Commercial Farmers during a press conference in Alausa Lagos State... on Wednesday.
Afero Commercial Farmers have called on the Lagos State Government, led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently intervene in an escalating land dispute, warning that the conflict is threatening agricultural production and could worsen Nigeria’s food security crisis.
The dispute, which involves overlapping claims between Afero Commercial Farmers and the military has led to disrupted planting activities and growing tension in rural areas as the 2026 planting season gets underway.
The farmers expressed their displeasure at a press conference on Wednesday, held at Alausa, Lagos State.
The Chairman of the group, Wale Oyekoya said, farmers are unable to access their land or invest in inputs while the ownership tussle remains unresolved.
“We are at a critical point in the farming calendar. If this land issue is not settled now, we risk losing an entire season,” Oyekoya said. “No farmer will plant on land where he is not sure he can harvest.”
He added that repeated appeals to local authorities have yielded little progress, leaving many farmers idle while food prices continue to rise in urban markets.
According to Oyekoya, “We are calling on the government to assist us in reclaiming our land. This is the third year since the Military seize our farms, claiming ownership over the land.
“This is the land which was officially allocated to us by the Lagos State Government, Babatunde Fasola (SAN) as a replacement for our original farms at Afero Community which were taken by the government for public use – the development of Epe International Airport.
“We are bringing this development to the notice of your office, Your Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, seeking your intervention. It is a matter of regret that three years after, the matter has still not been resolved. All efforts to sought mediation through the multi-door court were frustrated over the lack of commitment of the relevant parties,” the chairman explained.
He, however, bemoaned the living condition of its members, adding that, some had passed while couple of others were battling health challenges and needed proper medical treatment.
He said, following the claiming of our farmlands, “Our members have remained without means of livelihood all these three years. During this period of waiting, two of our members died and some others are battling health challenges without adequate resources to finance proper medical treatment.
“Amongst our members are some who used their pension and gratuities to establish their farms which they have now been dispossessed of now by the military. These are now at the verge of depression as they have lost all their life savings and having to depend on the good will of neighbours for sustenance. Some even took bank facilities to establish their farms using their homes as collateral. They are now faced with the prospect of losing their homes for failing to service their loans due to the seizure of their farms,” Oyekoya lamented.
Agriculture stakeholders say the dispute comes at a delicate time for the country, as inflation and supply chain pressures have already pushed food prices higher over the past year.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, food inflation remained above 20 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.
The chairman continued that “Land access is central to food production. Without a clear resolution, we risk both a drop in output and a rise in rural insecurity.”
The farmers are also pushing for a more structured land administration framework that clearly defines ownership and protects the rights of smallholder cultivators, who account for over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s food production.
He appealed to the government to come to their aid, adding that, “three years out of business especially in this harsh economic climate is unacceptable”
Oyekoya added that, the continuous deprivation of farmers to their farmland would halt their cardinal opportunity to contribute to the actualisation of food security policy and in turn affect the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which prioritizes economic recovery, social welfare, and public confidence in governance.
While reiterating the group’s confidence in the leadership of the governor, he called for a swift response into the land dispute.
“We don’t want promises. We want access to our land so we can plant and feed the nation,” Oyekoya said.
If the matter is not resolved in the coming weeks, analysts warn that the continued disruption could compound food supply shortages and further strain household incomes across the country.
Afero Commercial Farmers request to the government
- We appeal to the Lagos state government to relocate us to a reliable place for continuous farming.
- We request that the government also compensate us for all losses incurred during this period.
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