A family in Fere Village, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, has raised the alarm over an alleged attempt to take over its poultry farm, saying the dispute threatens an investment valued at more than N1 billion.
The Busari family alleged that the land housing its poultry business had been reallocated to a Chinese-owned company, Red Tree Limited, and expressed concern that the development could lead to the demolition or relocation of the farm.
The family’s concerns were made public by Azeez Busari, a director of Constancy Farm and son of the late Alhaji Jelili Busari, during a press briefing in Abeokuta. He appealed to both the Ogun State and Federal Governments to intervene in the matter and protect the family’s investment.
Family’s Account
According to Busari, the family acquired about 15 acres of land in 2020 in the name of his mother, Alhaja Adijat Jumoke Busari. He said the family later released about four acres in 2023 to provide access to land acquired by Red Tree Limited.
However, he alleged that the situation changed after his father’s death in December 2024, when the family was informed that the portion of land where the poultry operation was located had been reallocated to a Chinese company.
Busari said government officials contacted the family in early 2025 and advised them to stop further documentation on the property and vacate the premises. He said the family requested official documents confirming the alleged reallocation but had yet to receive satisfactory documentation.
The family also alleged that its perimeter fence was demolished earlier in 2026 and that further demolition could take place.
N1bn Investment at Risk
The family said the farm represents a major financial investment and a significant source of livelihood for its members and several workers.
The poultry facility has the capacity to accommodate about 27,000 laying birds, in addition to a 10,000-capacity rearing pen. The family said the business also supports people across its supply chain.
Busari expressed concern that the proposed takeover or relocation could expose the family to serious financial losses, particularly because the business had been sustained partly through bank loans.
He questioned why a Nigerian-owned agricultural enterprise should be displaced to accommodate the expansion of a foreign-owned company, arguing that local investors should be given equal opportunity to operate and grow their businesses.
The family stressed that it was not opposed to foreign investment but wanted the government to ensure that indigenous businesses were not unfairly disadvantaged.
Government Responds
However, a source within the Ogun State Government disputed the family’s account, saying the land had indeed been formally revoked.
The source said the government had written to the family and was seeking an alternative arrangement that would allow the poultry business to be relocated to another suitable location.
According to the official, the government had also attempted to engage the family and its lawyer in discussions aimed at resolving the dispute.
The official maintained that the government’s position was not to destroy the family’s business but to ensure that the land was used in accordance with its designated status and the state’s development plans.
The government source also said the affected land falls within an area under government acquisition and that the administration was considering options that could include compensation for crops on the property and assistance with relocating the poultry operation.
Family Seeks Intervention
Despite the government’s position, the Busari family has appealed to Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that the circumstances surrounding the land allocation and alleged revocation are properly investigated.
The family wants the authorities to clarify the legal status of the property and provide documentation supporting any decision to revoke or reallocate the land.
The dispute has also reportedly entered the legal arena, with the family maintaining that it wants the matter resolved through due process rather than through demolition or forced eviction.
The allegations made by the family have not been independently established, while the government has maintained that the land was formally revoked and that efforts were being made to relocate the poultry business.
The controversy has therefore raised broader questions about land administration, protection of local investments and the balance between attracting foreign investors and safeguarding existing Nigerian-owned businesses.