Executive Order no. 1 of 2023 on Establishment, Adoption and Implementation of a Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investments (FRILIA)

document r GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CROSS RIVER STATE, NIGERIA 9 Don Archibong Lodge Hope Waddell Avenue, Colobor 8 +234 (0) 810 711 6636, +234 (0) 708 676 7014 ~ thegovernor@crossriverslole.gov. ng sogovernorofficecrossriverslote@gmoil.com EXECUTIVE ORDERN0. 1 OF 2023 ESTABLISHMENT, ADOPTION, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A FRAMEWORK FOR RESPONSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE LAND-INTENSIVE AGRICULTURE (FRILIA) WHEREAS, Whereas, Whereas, Whereas, Cross River State Government in a bid to improve the investment climate intends to develop a Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investments (FRJLIA). The framework ensures that land acquisition and resettlement for large-scale agribusiness investments are undertaken in line with established international good practices, reaffirming our commitment to reassurance and confidence and guaranteeing shared benefits between private investors and surrounding communities. The Government of Cross River State is desirous of deepening its agribusiness reforms including delivering a win-win approach to all the relevant stakeholders on agricultural land matters and investment opportunities. FRillA will enhance access to large-scale investments, gainful employment on large-scale farms, sufficient income, and protection from the volatility of agricultural labour and product markets. The Framework will ensure adherence to guiding principles covering overarching investment, recognition and protection of land rights, state land acquisition and resettlement, environmental and social responsibility. In order to achieve the Cross River State government's objective of creating an enabling, responsible and inclusive business operating environment for large-scale agribusiness investments in Cross River State, there is a need for: . .., ADOPTION OF FRILIA PRINCIPLES 1. Adherence to core principles that mainstream international best practices, such as those based on the Principles for Responsible Investment in Agriculture and Food Systems and related principles and guidance, into agribusiness development in Cross River State for sustainable economic growth and development. These include, but are not limited to: a. That overarching investment will consistently contribute to the government's policy objective. b. The investment will be conducted transparently, avoid or minimize land acquisitions requiring voluntary or involuntary resettlement, minimize adverse effects from land acquisition, ensure a range of inclusive investment and production models are considered, subject the investment to consultation and participation with all potentially affected communities, ensure the affected communities have opportunity and responsibility to make informed decisions regarding land acquisition, foster gender equality and empowerment of women and youth and lastly, the investment will be monitored. c. Recognize and protect land rights (including customary, informal, and rights to common property resources) by safeguarding against the dispossession of legitimate tenure rights holders or partial treatment through prompt payment of adequate compensation in cash, alternative land, or other forms of d. Ensure transparent and fair State land acquisition and any resulting resettlement by disclosing and consistently applying compensation standards as described above. Require that economic and social impacts be identified and addressed with adequate compensation, supplemental livelihood improvement/restoration, public infrastructure and community services, and the option ofland replacement, as may be appropriate. e. Ensure environmental and social sustainability by observing safeguards against environmental damage. Before approval or any final decision to proceed, investments will be subjected to independent assessments of potential positive and negative impacts on tenure rights, food security, livelihood, environ 1 ment, the rights and/or status of women and youth, and physical cultural property. Community, individual, and worker safety will be protected, as will their fair, non­ discriminatory, and equal treatment. ESTABLISHMENT, POWERS, AND FUNCTIONS OF THE FRILIA STEERING COMMITTEE 2. The constitution of a high-level Steering Committee is responsible for the overall coordination of the establishment, adoption, and implementation of the Cross River State Framework for Responsible and Inclusive Land-Intensive Agricultural Investments (FRILIA). The Governor shall ~hair the Steering Committee, while members will include: MDA Total No ofReoresentatives Ministrv of Croo and Irri1rntion Development 1 Ministrv of Lands 1 - Ministrv of Finance 1 ' . - . ' - Office of the Attorney General & Commissioner for Justice 1 . . , ' ,, . .. . Ministrv of Environment 1 .. . . .. ·- Ministrv of Local Government Affairs 1 •.• - - -· ' Ministry of Rural Transformation . 1 .· \ ... ., .· : . Ministrv of Women Affairs 1 . " . .. Ministry of Housing 1- - ' ' Ministry of Industrv - l '· ' . . - Ministry of Commerce . 1 Cross River State Investment Promotion Bureau 1 ~ . - 3. The function and powers of the Steering Committee shall be to: i. Ensure that agri-business investments in the State are consistent with the FRILIA principles and international best practices, including, but not limited to: a. Promote transparency in agri-business investment in the State. b. Promote the application of inclusive production models. c. Promote safeguards measures against dispossession of tenure rights holders. d. Monitor the impact of.agri-business in.vestment, including the application of compensation standards. e. Promote environmental sustainability. ' ,. , /1 ,. : . ,. "l.i:, ,,.,... • ►: I - . i" ... ,,1. - . ' I • • !~•:':/•',(•~(~• ~~ .... -:'{',},.'•,:·~ ,\!.:;:•:, .\ 4 ~•;,.'Ir' '.';,••·/~.•:'",• .' I J .} .: .... ,'}., .. ,;\'.r,,1,·:'""..,."rl .• ,4\.,.,;l .•.• ,.:-.tt ... ,,,~,.:,i';I ..... \ • : /. /1 :f ff ;•{i]f f ;:i.::IiI9l~~:~:!li.1tH~ ti/; i : : :·: •• :-: i; ;:.: j . .• ·'. . • . ,: . . . ·, ,•, i, }, ,:1 "+- Jf-, /~ '., ,;• .. ; .. 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'• • •• : · ·:. ~ :-: ••• ·:::· ; : . :.~r~ppi:◊ y~J~fa9op{!9rl, a~9~~ey~9pcri~4r~ss'.·.M~chanism (GRM), a.n9 • f , .. , 1 --•,;•:,·••,,:;•i•:•j•:,{•: .. ~ ...... :.~."';-::,.-~,/•:•\•~,•~•:? ~/ .. ,''<•~~ ~~--•.:·•:••J•·.--~ ... ,•,' ~- •• N • ~ •i: , , .. ,.:~,~ . , ·. . . . ·, · review GRM·reports; · ·.{· . "· · ... ,, .. .-. .. f •• ., , ., •• • ' , • -·, , ·, • ·., , • > ,~ • ~ • ' .. .. • i', \ . ..-:t,'; ,,,~{, .~.,::1 ,.: 1• I I t•,~•\\i, ,. ,•,, '\ ~';'.: .$. l' ', ..... :. i7 •, • : •• , ,; • ', • :", '•• : ""' ~:~- •'.J • , ; • ; .~: ·.• 'li. ,Appro~e .. th~' ~~ cip,tF)Jl: ~qri,iqpJ~~t1ini~f i 9n pf: t.h~lr anj e\v9r~ J9r, ~e~pbnsib.l~ -'~d ~~du~ i v~ -~ •• Land-Intensiv e· Agriculturannv.estrrferits' (FRILIA): ( '~ .. ,i.'; ·- : : I , '., ' • .. , • • ' .. 1 • • ·, .. -.<i...,,~,,.;~ ~- • .. "' 1/·. ,.·. '-,'' : , .. • ,.'./, ' ,·,.• • • ' . .'- .. ; · iii. Approve fo(ad~ptio~ ~4·~i~.s~min~ti6ri t90J~i!sliy!deii~~~(p9Ji~i,e,s}r equi~alen! to guide.: invest.ors ~~~ugh~~t.)~e, 4.~Y-~!0P!llf~f q( l~qo-in,tt?~h1f ~gr!cl!~t;ita!' projects ·i~ C:{os~ ,Riv~~-; Stat~ m a ~apn~r cops1~t~n~ .wit~ tpe FR}~IA prmc!ple~ ~d. mt~ma~1onal best pra~t1ces. . • , . , iv. On.the reconimeridation.of.th~ Techni.cal -~om~ittee, ~·o-o~t sucJt people·6;·~reate. s~~~~~(, -=-~ . • • ·.- .• ~omi:nitt~ei as 'may be necessary ~o .ex~cute it$ functio~s. . • . • ' • '. • I • ••• : ~.: ! v. M~et quarterly or~ often as ma{be co~sidered -~~p~di~nt fo~ the effe~tiv~ discha~i·o(ft~ •• ·.: :· T; ,:··-~. fun~tions to· review the progress of the projects ·and in\~estri1¢nts· and to consider-any sp'e4ific :: :. ' :· ~;. ·.,":. issue(s) tp.at the G9vernor qiay d~r~ct. • • • • - • • ' • • :.;, \ :~ . -·: /: -~ ... /:: •. , . ~ ·:-.--: ..... ·~·. ,:,;,.;.; .. ,·.,, ~ ... ·vi.Are such other things considered necessary· or expedienfto perfopn its funct~ons: ,~•t, =,: \(::;~>::i-t(~. ·. . • . - . · . . . . • -. • • . • . • <···:--~t~{;~FN;~~t}:. • .. • ' .> • 't .... .. ,. •'. • . .... .... ~· -.. ... .. ESTABLISHMENT, POWERS,AND FUNCTIONS OFTHE"FRILIA TECHNICAL ··,~ ··;, .• ~- -: . ' • I .. , •, • • • .'·\. •-:: ~'- ... ? -:~:.• ·';'i•.·::-:i. ~ COMMITTEE • .. : .: --::· .. -.. ~ ~. , , . ~ . ,)· ... :~-- .~~:~~;)- : ·:~~-:-": 3. The constitution of a Technical Committee to support the Steering. C,ornII}i~et··in.'" ~ ::\Y ~ ;,; • . performing its function and meeting the objective of this Order. Tlie Committee':shall :..· .. -::.< ,< • ~ • ' • < • "-~ ~ .,, ~ .... " ~... .. . • • • include the Commissioner for Crop and In·igation Development.as.chaim1an ahd.~t\v~.: :::'t:[:.7 :· representatives (one not below the rank of a director and one principal oflicer):of.'tne~ .~\·::J. >~: following Ministries, Departments; and Agencies: Mi~istry of Lands,.Cross Rive'(.~t~fei:.> • ~·: >\r,~ Investment Promotion Bureau; Ministry of Finance; Ministry ofErivir6rnnent;}.1~njstry·,.?.\ ~t~\:~(, of Commerce; Ministry of 'Industry;. Office of Surveyor General; ,fADA'.MA;;·BPP/:~t~f1t(:r:t· Cross River State Internal Revenue Service; Permanent Secretary Mh1istry bf Cfop·'ihdiAt .i}.i~-} Irrigation Development (Secretary) and Director, Reigns Management consutf , . ,, ·; ;\ .i:f.,:r:-?~<:~'> . ·-, \ • I \ :.. : : ,•\, ... ~~!;•:•• ),,:':.{1{ '1/-' ,•;'r<: \ r' ,", ~--· ... ":' ~ ...... 1·.·~ ,:. , • I "\ ' "-, -\'to '\ l •., 1 ' 'li ~ • ' .. " ~ t . .. \~ \ •. , .... . .. ~ 1 • ' "• ... '. .... • ·~ ,J ". " ' .. . • 5. The function"and1JOW~rs of:ihe;TechHical°Committee shalf'be' to:'.;. •. '. J, • , .. ,.•.\' .: > . ,, -~ ·-;· ' ... ,' ..,. ~ .... ,-.{., -.~~- :.\!·:7~;; ... " ·)•,<~t .. '1.·.;::-. ~ ".' .. - •-;'.'' .'\, . •:••:•,. t ,' :-•·; ' ~ . • , -. -~ ·". peye"i~p :':i--F~iuii:d~'~rk'.:;Mr/R;~p;ri~ib 1 f~ · ahd)tnclusi~~---,f:ari·d~Int~nsi~~ ;·Agrl.cuiiiir~i' •. -, •• ~ •• , .-,-;,;..-.,1,·• ... • ... ••1.,-,.,,,,,(· ·.'·1•1.i,,•'~•\1 .. pr• >\ . ,.,.l · ,,., '( ., •• : : ~y~~!~~~q~~-{FJM~!A)/ff~P~? .. ~~-.W1Pl~~e~t~tto~ plan fc?r.fRILiA: : .·: ' . . •.. . . :· • • •. De~el,op· a :'tci~lkit/gµ!d~li.n¢s/p6li9y:: 9{ cquiv'alepf:,to guide •-investors' .thrpughout·tpe -: , ~ .• · :-:· 'de,y~lopJP:~tjt.J.?( l.~~f}~~~·µ.s~y{ '.ag ric.~Itµr~f p:iojects ,ih,'.¢foss Ri ver Stat~: consi~tent . . \" . \~i~ the-pRU;,If.'pr,i.n'tip!e~\ili d°" iµl~qiational:be~(pra~tices::. :·, . ' .• ·• ;; •. . • .. ' ,. '\ ... • , ,..,: ... ; ~• ... ~ , .. • ~.1 ~ .. \.• • >.:. .',~;.-:~.': ' ...... , ·.~\ ,:· ... ""':" ,:l-; • . • t:. T ... J.,,, J ~ ·~~ •,• . •1 •• I • •• ' • • ·• •' ~ , • -Co~duct.n~½·-orJ:>e9efit.a.~se~Stfl~l}ts~to,~ss1st-the government m lillplementmg agn- • • • .-: • · business project's, 'riiairii'y~l~d-basecUnvestnient.' • •• · - • : . • , • ~ • ' ... - .. - ~' ~\ ••• .• ..-· ... ::.~'\--•~.., ... :-."•· . ..1··,•.,,,..:,:.·• ·,,•.·;,,, ... ,,... .• ..... ·' \· . • • -. : • .'• .. ~\~v}se a#~'-~Si§t'\thf g,qyer#in~p{Jn:;¢r~~t! Ilg: ~~staitj<l;blit l~t:id· use ~q ·agri-pusiness , . . , . . ~1• .. • . ' .... • •. •. :, ! '.' •• '.;. \, •• , ,'i, ·, -~. l , ' •; • t. • .. • • f ., ,. .. • • ' .,:- • • Po 1c1es , ·· ·' · -··· • :,.,. ,·)•.c.,•: ·, • · • •• • • ·.-• • •• •• ·: .•· ~ • ,' ';- 1 •~,; ~-~•·•~••,•~.·..:., ,,-. , .. : , ....... ~-,~ 1: I"; •. • ,: L •· .•, '• , ', ,., • • ; • • • Monitor all·land:.base•djn.vestment in· the· State ·a:rid their compliance-with FRILIA. -· -~ssist th~ ,4e~ejopri1 ~ii~t9fa)~n~ '~~ril/t~r ~gri;bus,iries~ ,inyestfue~f~it;i tbe State, in . :particular ensuring th'at-"land'·acquisition for' tlie'Iand hank i's.consistent with the FRILIA .•. , .~ -, • • • . .., , •. t • • • "• •• .:,\,~: ~ J •• l ' , • .,. ~ 1,,, .. , .. , ,... • t .. , ~ • • • . .. prmc1ples ~nd-mtern~t1on~l b ~st practl ces. • , • . - . • • Publish periodically' hlfonnation·on agri-business investments. . . • ,: '.· '. • Establish a fyamewo~k,f~i:: co~m~hity ~i:id-st~keh:oid~r consultatio ns and engagemen~; • ·Provide a monthly repq~t to"the Steeling Committee . - • . . . • Meet at least every moi;ith to consider rep.Orts from stakeholders, assigrieq task~, ~q C • '. ~ ...... any special.issue(s) as may pe directed by the Steering Committee.. • ., • Perform such other-·function as· the Steering Committee m~y occ~sionally deem -. -:: . necessary to achieve its function: • • , • ESTABLISHMENT OF A GRIEVANCE REDRESS M.ECHANISM • , " -.. • .. I.:\': 6. The Technical Committee shall develop effective grievance and dispute resol~tion· •. ,· • :' - '.:, processes with appropriate appeal mechanisms· for claimants, landowners, host comrm.inities, • • ' and investors. The mechanisms shall, be consistent with the FRILL>\ principles · and international best practices. The Secretary of the Technical Committee shall also functio.11::a~ the desk officer for the Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) on FRILIA in Cross River State: The GRM will be such that it consults and makes inquiries within the areas of grievance, deliberates on complaint(s)/appeal(s), appraises the complaint(s)/appe.al(s) ~gainst rele~ant guidelines and procedures, and resolves all complaint(s)/appeal(s) wiµlin fourteen days of receipt with the responsible authority within the con~erned Ministry, pepartment or ·Agen9y: The Technical Committee, as part of its monthly report to the Steering Committee, will inciude a briefing on issues/complaint(s)/appeal(s) resolved and those pending. • • • ..... ~· ..... ~ .. , ;·\ .. ', ·,, "" : ,v . ' '-· .I. , • ' • • ... DEVELOPMENT AND ADOPTION OF FRILIA TOOLKITS/GUIDELINES/POLICIES OR EQUIVALENT 7.. The Technical Committee, as part of , its respo~sibility, ~hall develo?­ Toolkit/guidelines/policies or equivalent for approval by the Steering Comrmttee. These will guide investors throughout developing land-intensive agricultur~l projec ts in Cross Ri~er State ensuring investors and the responsible MD As have adequate mforrnat1on to comply with FRILIA principles and international best practices. This shall include, but not be limited to, enabling investors and responsible MDAs to effectively engage in consultations with communities, including local land rights holders. Among other things, the toolkit/guidelines/policies or equivalent will cover stakeholder engagement; environmental and social impact assessment and risk management; land access, easement, and involuntary resettlement management; gender equality and the empowerment of women and youth; valuation and compensation; Global Memorandum of Understanding; community needs assessment and development; out-growers and food security. NOW THEREFORE, I, SENATOR PRINCE BASSEY OTU, EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF CROSS RIVER STATE, BY THE AUTHORITY VESTED IN ME BY THE 1999 CONSTITUTION OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND THE LAWS OF CROSS RIVER STATE, HEREBY ORDER AS FOLLOWS: L It shall be government policy to accelerate large-scale agribusiness investments based on international best practices of land principles and guidelines to improve the business environment that enables the state's economic development. II. FRILIA would address critical challenges, reforms, and investment priorities in the agricultural value chains, financial sector regulatory reforms, and land reforms to facilitate farming and non-agricultural investment opportunities. III. FRILIA shall specifically bridge the gap between investors and host communities, laying down investment procedures to ensure a win-win approach for all stakeholders and environmental and social sustainability management. JV. To ensure the implementation and operationalization ofFRILIA in line with the Business Enabling Reform Action Plan (BER.AP), the Government, Departments, and Agencies shall collaborate to achieve the result area to remove obstacles to agribusiness investment opportunities. ... ( a) 'file ord~r shall ·be i;ple~~~ted ~~manner consistent ~vith the appli~1e l~\VS of Cross River State. ••• • ~ •. · •• -. • - ~ (b) The order is not int~ndecl to and does noi ~reate· ariy "rig:llt or benefi~ ~ubs~nve· or procedural, enforceable at law or µ1. equity by any p~ against ~e • Government of Cross River State~ its departments, agencies; or ~titi~~ • ii;.S . :: officers, employees, or agents, or any other person. -. • ISSUE lJNDER MY HAl\TJ) THIS 23RD DAY OF NOVEMBER2023 r SENATOR (PRif CE) BASSE EDET OTU • - •. EXECUTIVE GOVErOR, CRO S RIVER STATE