Andy Esiet, Calabar
The protesting youths
Youths of Odukpani Local Government Area in Cross River State have issued a seven day ultimatum to the federal government to pay compensation to affected communities on the Calabar-Itu highway.
To make serious their threat, the youths on Monday disrupted the flow of traffic along the Calabar- Odukpani-Itu federal highway for over an hour protesting against the non payment of compensation.
The youths accused the federal government of an alleged double standard of the Minister of Works and Housing for stopping the payment of compensation to communities already captured by the federal government registered Estate Valuers and Surveyors as it affects the road.
In a Statement signed by four representatives of the group Mr. Asuquo Ukpanyang, Mr. Ekpenyong Akiba, Comrade William Bassey and Comrade Emmanuel Etim, they served a seven day notice effective from May 22 of intention to embark on total halt of construction activities of the two companies handling the road construction project until all outstanding compensations are fully paid to approved claimants in affected Odukpani host communities.
They accused the Minister for Works and Housing of alleged double standards in the handling of this particular project under his ministry, saying he sponsored a memo to the Federal Executive Council since October 2019 wherein a resolution was reached to the effect that State Governments should now inherit the payment of associated compensation, to Secure the right of way, for the construction of federal roads.
In their words,, “Kindly note that the Hon Minister, sponsored and secured the consent of the Federal Executive Council, without consulting and coming to an agreement With State Governors. Meanwhile, as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, we are aware that the Hon Minister Knows that this FEC resolution “does not” and “cannot” nullify the rights and Privileges as enshrined in Section 44 (1) & (2) of the 1999 Constitution as Amended and section 29 of the Land Use Act Cap L.5 LFN 2004. A resolution cannot override the law”.
They further noted that “Some of the Odukpani host communities who have been officially documented as claimants to structures, economic trees and crops, within the right of way of the Odukpani – Itu – Ikot Ekpene dualization project, are being victimised by this FEC resolution and by extension the Honourable Minister of Works.
“The Hon Minister engaged estate surveying and valuers firms to assess and Prepare a valuation report for payment of compensation to the affected Communities. The Hon Minister approved same reports for payments of compensation to the Affected host communities, but now (through his FEC sponsored resolution) referring it to State Governments for same payments. How confusing?”
“Compensation was approved and paid to about 40 percent of claimants of the Julius Berger section in March of 2020, this was before the NNPC tax credit funding which came into effect December 2021…It is also of worthy concern to note that contrary to the FEC resolution, on the 17th of August 2022, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Payment of 2.7 billion Naira for the Federal Ministry of Power, as compensation payment for affected communities for the Zungeru Power Project.”
“The Hon Minister engaged estate surveying and valuers firms to assess and Prepare a valuation report for payment of compensation to the affected Communities. The Hon Minister approved same reports for payments of compensation to the Affected host communities, but now (through his FEC sponsored resolution) referring it to State Governments for same payments. How confusing?”
“It is also of worthy concern to note that contrary to the FEC resolution, on the 17th of August 2022, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the Payment of 2.7 billion Naira for the Federal Ministry of Power, as compensation payment for affected communities for the Zungeru Power Project.”
“Federal Ministry of Transport pays compensation for the right of way for rail lines without reference to the FEC resolution against compensation, and it is quite shocking to discover that the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Lands division, serves as the clearing office who vets, approves and forwards to Federal Ministry of Transport.
“Having brought this argument to this point, it is now time to call on the GCEO Of NNPC LTD and the GGM Public Affairs Department of NNPC, to be informed that it is of their interests to engage the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing on a matter of urgency to ensure the full payments of compensation due to verified individual and community claimants as soon as possible!”
They warned that “host communities in Odukpani have demonstrated for so long a true spirit of patriotism by listening to the Controllers of Works (past and present) and allowing Julius Berger and Sermatech move their equipments into our lands without any form of compensation, holding in trust the promise that we will be paid.”
“It’s taking too long and we now see that we are being taken for granted. Please note: payment of Interest on delayed payment of compensation section 29(4)(b) Land Use Act L.5 LFN2004,”.
