Itu-Calabar highway: Paramount rulers ask FG to compensate property owners

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Paramount Rulers of Itu, Ikono, Ibiono Ibom, and Ikot Ekpene local government areas, Akwa Ibom State have urged the Federal Government to pay compensation to affected property owners on the Calabar-Itu Highway.

According to the monarchs, the non-payment of compensation to those affected by the construction of Calabar-Itu Highway was stalling the completion of the project which the government repeatedly used during its campaign.

Speaking on Monday in Uyo on behalf of other royal fathers during an advocacy visit to Mr Franklin Isong, State Director, Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), the Paramount Ruler of Itu, Edidem Edet Akpan Inyang insisted that without the compensation payment, the construction cannot continue.

Inyang argued that since the Federal Government pays compensation to owners of property affected by road projects constructed across the country, that of Akwa Ibom State should not be an exception.

He insisted that the ideology of shifting the compensation payment on a federal road it is constructing to the state government was not realistic as the state government was also paying compensation on roads it is constructing.

He expressed sadness that the delay in the project has increased the number of accidents with its attendant casualties on the road.

“We commend the Federal Government for re-awarding the road and our son Senator Ita Enang for facilitating the re-award of the contract but the road is now a death trap because its present condition has caused several accidents.

“What we are saying is that controversy over the payment of compensation is stalling work on the project. We want the FG to pay the compensation and not the state so that the road project will progress because that road is of great economic importance to us.

“It is regrettable that there was no provision for compensation on the Calabar-Itu highway. Other roads in other parts of the country also attracted compensation. Our own should not be different,” he stated.

The Royal Father mentioned that it would be difficult to reach a compromise with the people as it was their constitutional right, adding that already, the property owners have expressed unwillingness to forgo the compensation.

He further frowned at the FG for handpicking its own Community Liasion Officers (CLOs), said it is the constitutional right of the four local government areas affected by the road construction to pick their own CLOs and urged the government to withdraw their CLOs.

“We also want our right to be given to us to nominate Community Liason Officers. It is unlawful for any other person to do so for us,” he said.

While speaking, State Director, Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN), Mr Franklin Isong commended President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing several Akwa Ibom indigenes into positions in his government.

Isong, however, called on the FG to expedite action on the road in order to fast-track development in the area and applauded the Paramount Rulers for their peaceful disposition towards resolving the challenges confronting the road project.

He appealed to the FG to ensure that the right thing is done so that the road project would be completed within the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari as it has been one of the campaigns promises to Akwa Ibom people.