Toyyibat Qasim
A family in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State has raised the alarm over an alleged attempt to take over its poultry farm, accusing unidentified government officials and a Chinese-owned company, Red Tree Limited, of threatening its continued operation.
The Busari family of Fere Village in the local government areas of the state, said the farm, which it described as a legacy established by the late Alhaji Jelili Busari, has become the centre of a prolonged land dispute that could jeopardise an investment it valued at more than N1bn and affect dozens of workers and other dependants.
One of the family members, Busari Azeez, son of the deceased, made the allegations during a press interaction, appealing to the Ogun State and Federal Governments to intervene in the dispute.
Azeez said the family acquired 15 acres of land in 2020 in the name of his mother, Alhaja Adijat Jumoke Busari, but currently occupies about 11 acres, where the poultry operation is situated.
According to him, his late father voluntarily released four acres to Red Tree Limited in 2023 to provide an access route to land the company had acquired from another family.
He alleged, however, that the arrangement subsequently changed after the family was informed that the portion of land occupied by its poultry business had been reallocated to the Chinese company.
“In early 2025, we received a call from the Surveyor-General of Ogun State that there was an issue with our land and that it had been reallocated to a Chinese firm,” Azeez said.
He said the family requested official documents establishing the alleged reallocation but claimed that none had been made available to it.
Azeez further alleged that some individuals arrived at the farm early in 2026 and attempted to demolish the family’s perimeter fence, allegedly acting on the directive of the Surveyor-General.
He said the family subsequently approached the official for clarification and was advised to communicate with the lawyer representing Red Tree Limited.
The family member, however, maintained that it needed formal documentation from the government before engaging on the alleged reallocation of its property.
The dispute, according to Azeez, has also resulted in litigation, with the family instituting a court case in late 2024 against several parties connected with the disputed property.
He said the case remained pending.
The family member said the poultry farm currently had a capacity of approximately 27,000 laying birds, alongside a 10,000-capacity rearing pen.
He described the business as a major investment and warned that any demolition or forced relocation could cause significant financial losses while disrupting the livelihoods of workers and others who depend on the farm.
“This poultry is just beyond a poultry. It’s our father’s legacy. It’s a community to us,” he said.
Azeez also questioned the alleged justification for the proposed relocation.
He said the family was told that the area had been designated for industrial and commercial purposes and, therefore, could not accommodate its poultry operation.
He argued that poultry farming itself constituted an agricultural and commercial activity, adding that the Chinese company involved in the dispute was also engaged in poultry production.
The family member alleged that an official identified as Mr Adeniji, whom he described as the Chief Security Officer to the Ogun State Governor, had also visited the property and presented what he called an “irreversible agreement” for the family to sign as part of a proposed relocation arrangement.
He said the family rejected the document because it considered the process unofficial and insisted that the government should first provide evidence of any lawful reallocation of its land.
Azeez appealed to Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, and President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter.
He urged the authorities to ensure that local investors were not disadvantaged in dealings involving foreign companies.
He said the uncertainty surrounding the ownership and future of the property had created anxiety within the family and prevented the poultry business from operating at full capacity.
Another family member, Mutiu Olateju Busari, said the farm had been sustained partly through loans and other financial commitments.
He appealed to the government to protect the family’s investment, saying the proposed relocation would have serious consequences for the family.
“We don’t have anything except that place, because it’s a family business. I plead to the government to help us. We don’t want to relocate that place,” he said.
The Busari family called on the relevant authorities to investigate the dispute, establish the legal status and ownership history of the disputed land, and clarify whether any valid government allocation or reallocation had taken place.
The family also appealed for protection against any further demolition or interference with the poultry operation pending the resolution of the matter through the appropriate legal and administrative channels.
PLATFORM TIMES reports that the allegations made by the Busari family have not been independently established. Red Tree Limited, the Ogun State Government, the Surveyor-General and the other officials mentioned in the allegations were not represented during the press interaction. Their responses will be sought and published if obtained.
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