By Onwa Ekor, Calabar.
The Governor Bassey Otu-led administration has approved the immediate payment of compensation to landlord communities along the stretch of the road within Cross River, for the smooth progress of work on the Calabar-Itu federal highway.
Recall that the federal government upon re-award of the contract for the reconstruction of the road had attempted to handle compensation issues without success, thereby stalling the progress of work on the highway.
Commissioner for works, Pius Ankpo, who made the disclosure, told journalists that the development was a giant step by the state executive council to bring dividends of democracy to the people.
“History is in the making as the Cross River executive council has approved payment of compensation to landlord communities along the Calabar-Itu federal road.
“It is a welcome development. The importance of that road to the economy of the state as well as our South-South and south-eastern neighbours cannot be overemphasized. The approval is a demonstration of the Otu-led administration’s determination to donate right of way to the federal government to fix the ‘very bad’ Calabar-Itu road and save its users from the harrowing experiences suffered on the highway,” Ankpo remarked.
He enjoined the landlord communities to conduct themselves properly and accept what the state government would be presenting to them, knowing that they are the biggest beneficiaries from the multiplier effect of the road when put in good shape.
He warned that compensation would only be paid to those with tangible ancestral property with verified ownership, and not those who have gone ahead to build boreholes, tombstone, shrines, for some selfish and self-serving motives.
“Those who have built shrines, graves and so on just to cheat government would not receive a dime. Those overnight structures would be demolished. Only those with genuine cases would be paid after thorough investigation,” he said.
When quizzed on the actual budget earmarked for compensation, the commissioner assured that figures would be made available as soon as the state executive council extract is ready.
