Women from Mgbara Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State have protested against the proposed acquisition of community land for the construction of an African Development Bank (AfDB) office complex.
The protesters, who marched through Mmahu-Egbema, the headquarters of the local government area, accused some individuals of allegedly taking over negotiations concerning the acquisition of the community’s land without adequate consultation with residents.
The women, who carried placards and chanted solidarity songs, demanded that the proposed project be suspended until the wider community is properly consulted and carried along.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the immediate past Youth President of Mgbara Community, Mr. Modrich Ajunwa, said the demonstration had the backing of the community.
Ajunwa maintained that decisions concerning the community’s ancestral land and common interests should not be taken behind closed doors by individuals or a small group of people.
He appealed to the African Development Bank to suspend further engagement on the proposed project until an open, transparent and inclusive consultation process is conducted.
According to him, the community is not opposed to development but wants any project involving its land and resources to respect the rights, livelihood and collective interests of its people.
He explained that many residents depend on farming for their livelihood and expressed concern that the acquisition of community land could affect their means of sustenance.
Ajunwa also urged the AfDB not to rely solely on representations from individual political leaders, traditional authorities or community representatives claiming to speak for the entire community without verifiable evidence of broad-based consent.
He alleged that the proposed project had already created tension and division within the community, warning that proceeding without addressing the concerns could further escalate the situation.
“We remain committed to peace and lawful dialogue, but we will continue to stand firmly for the protection of our community, our ancestral heritage and the collective interests of our people,” he said.
The protesters called for direct engagement between the AfDB and the wider Mgbara community, insisting that no development project should proceed without meaningful consultation and demonstrable community acceptance.
They further appealed to relevant authorities to intervene and ensure that the dispute does not escalate into conflict among members of the community.
The protesters stressed that their objection was not against development, but against what they described as a lack of transparency and inclusiveness in the process surrounding the proposed project.
The African Development Bank had not, at the time of filing this report, publicly responded to the allegations raised by the protesters.
