Abia State Government says it will pay compensation to owners of structures to be demolished along Abia Tower Express roundabout, Okpara Square Road (Ossah Road), Umuahia, for a six-lane road.
The state Commissioner for land and housing, Mr. Chaka Chukwumerije, disclosed this weekend in a meeting with affected autonomous community stakeholders and traditional rulers.
The affected autonomous communities include Eziama na Mgbaja, Okpu Isingwu, Uzzi na Akpizu, and Isingwu, all in Umuahia, North LGA.
Addressing his hosts at the Eziama Ossah venue of the meeting, the commissioner disclosed that the ministry has already done the enumeration and valuation of the buildings, while external valuers were also engaged.
According to him, compensations would be made within the ambits of the law, pointing out that the present administration of Governor Alex Otti in the state has a human face, hence the ample consideration given to sensitising the communities before embarking on the demolition and expansion exercise.
“We embarked on this public enlightenment because the government of Dr. Alex Otti believes in due process and is in a hurry to develop the state. We will give a human face to all decisions taken, as we are all Abians,” the commissioner assured.
Speaking also, a representative of the Attorney General of the State, Mrs Oge Maduka, assured the communities that everything would be done within the ambit of the law, stating that the expansion was for the best interest of the communities involved and Abians in general.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Mr. Steve Nwazue, a director in the Ministry of Lands and Housing, Mr Augustine Ucheibe, and a representative of Umuahia Capital Development Authority, Amos Chinedu, explained that a notice of demolition had already been served to the owners of the affected buildings and that it will affect about 160 structures.
He added that internal and external valuations were done, while a step-by-step action with guiding rules would be applied in the demolition exercise.
Responding, the traditional rulers appreciated the road expansion initiative of the governor but passionately appealed that compensations should also be made to those who inherited their ancestral lands and those who genuinely owned properties but without a Certificate of Occupancy.
They assured that they would not work against the government since they earnestly prayed for Dr. Otti’s emergence as governor.
The royal fathers also commended the commissioner and his entourage for meaningfully engaging the community leaders in the development.
The state government had recently announced that it would soon embark on the expansion of the dual-laned Ossah Road Umuahia from the Enugu/Port Harcourt Express Tower Junction to Michael Okpara Square, right inside Umuahia City, which before now was a narrow two-way lane.
Traditional rulers at the occasion include the ruler of Eziama na Mgbaja Ossah Autonomous Community, Eze Chiabuotu Emeike; his counterparts from lsingwu Autonomous Community, Eze Daniel Ukaegbu; Okpu Isingwu Autonomous Community, Eze Kingsley Emekobum; and Uzzi na Akpizu Autonomous Community, Eze Joshua Akomas; a traditional Prime Minister, Mr. Christopher Onwuegbu; and the President-General of Eziama na Mgbaja Ossah Autonomous Community, Mr. Obiakaraije Ndukwe.