Hundreds of women from Mgbara Community in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State on Tuesday protested the proposed siting of an African Development Bank (AfDB) office complex in their community, citing the absence of open, transparent and inclusive consultations over land acquisition.
The women marched through the streets of Mmahu-Egbema, the local government headquarters, carrying placards and chanting that the project must not proceed until the wider community is properly engaged. They accused a small group of individuals of hijacking negotiations for the community land earmarked for the development.
Speaking on behalf of the protesters, immediate past Youth President of the community, Mr. Modrich Ajunwa, said the women had the full backing of residents. He stressed that decisions affecting the community’s ancestral land, livelihood and collective future cannot be made behind closed doors by a few persons.
“We, the people of Mgbara Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria, are protesting today to formally communicate our strong objection to, and rejection of, any proposed project or development initiative associated with the AfDB within our community where the project has not received the genuine and collective acceptance of the people,” Ajunwa said.
He urged the AfDB to suspend any further engagement or implementation until concerns are addressed through a transparent and inclusive process. Ajunwa also appealed to the bank not to rely solely on representations from individual political leaders, traditional authorities or other persons claiming to speak for the community without verifiable evidence of broad consent.
According to him, the proposed project has already generated disagreement, tension and division among residents, undermining the very goals of sustainable development and community participation. He noted that most community members are farmers whose land constitutes their primary means of livelihood, and any acquisition must therefore involve direct engagement with the people.
“No development project should be imposed on a community or advanced through individuals whose positions do not reflect the freely expressed will of the majority of the people,” Ajunwa stated. He added that the protesters welcome genuine development that respects the people’s rights, culture and collective interests, but insist that the AfDB must treat the demonstration as formal notice of the community’s objection.
The women vowed to continue standing for the protection of their ancestral heritage while remaining committed to peace and lawful dialogue.
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