The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has called on the Cross River State Government to adopt a flexible approach to compensate individuals affected by the Calabar-Itu road dualisation project. The Minister made this appeal during a courtesy visit to Governor Bassey Otu while assessing federal road projects in Cross River State.
Senator Umahi expressed concern that the delay in compensating the locals would impede the progress of work along the road. He suggested that the state government should develop its own method to assess the value of the encroached land and make the necessary payments to address the grievances of affected individuals and expedite construction.
In his words, “We will not impose the cost of compensation on you. However, we have established a policy that involves State Governments in road construction. While the federal government covers the cost of actual construction, states are responsible for compensating people affected by the road projects.”
He further added, “I urge you to determine your own cost based on what is obtainable in your state. During my tenure as governor of Ebonyi State, we conducted our own assessment and compensated for the portion of land encroached by the road.”
The Minister emphasized the Ministry’s commitment to constructing better and long-lasting roads for Nigerians through the use of concrete. He commended SEMATECH, one of the contractors, for adhering to the guidelines set by the Ministry of Works along their assigned 28.92-kilometer stretch on the Calabar-Itu road.
He expressed his dissatisfaction with the construction methods employed by contractors working on roads across southern Nigeria. He highlighted the issue of using substandard bitumen for asphalted roads, especially in regions with high rainfall, which leads to road deterioration within a few years. He encouraged state governments to supervise projects closely to complement the efforts of the federal government.
The Minister reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to improving the lives of Nigerians through the Renewed Hope agenda.
Resolution
In response, Governor Otu assured that the government would revisit the issue of compensation for individuals whose lands have been encroached upon due to the expansion and reconstruction project along the Calabar-Itu road. He recognized that deteriorating roads have a negative impact on the nation’s economy and expressed Cross River State’s readiness to collaborate with the Nigerian Government to compensate affected individuals.
The governor commended the Minister for endorsing the use of concrete roads, considering the high cost and limited accessibility of bitumen in southern Nigeria. He explained that the issue of compensation had delayed the project, as consultants from Abuja conducted the evaluation and required the state government to make the payments. Governor Otu expressed the state’s willingness to review the issue and work towards a resolution that would allow contractors to resume the project without any disruption.
The Minister inspected the Calabar-Itu road, which connects Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. The road reconstruction project was awarded to SEMATECH, a Nigerian-owned firm, and Julius Berger Construction Company.
