FG to pay compensation to property owners on Cross River-Abuja superhighway

The federal government has commenced moves to compensate property owners whose houses, structures and other assets are affected by the construction of the Cross River-Ebonyi-Benue-Kogi-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, disclosed this on Friday while inspecting ongoing work on the superhighway, one of the flagship infrastructure projects of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

Umahi said the federal government had decided to take responsibility for compensation in areas where state governments were unable or unwilling to meet the obligation, stressing that payment of compensation should not become an impediment to the delivery of critical road projects.

According to him, President Tinubu had directed the Ministry of Works to address compensation challenges that could frustrate the execution of major infrastructure projects across the country.

The minister recalled that the Federal Government had already paid compensation to some affected property owners, including those in Abaomege, while the Ebonyi State Government had also compensated owners of properties affected by the Onueke flyover.

He commended Governor Francis Nwifuru for the gesture, noting that the governor’s intervention demonstrated commitment to facilitating infrastructure development in the state.

“There was this policy of the Federal Government in the past administration that we will do the roads while governors pay compensation,” Umahi said.

“Graciously, Ebonyi Governor paid compensation at Onueke for that flyover and I thank him very seriously for that. Not all the governors accepted to make that sacrifice.”
Umahi said the Federal Government subsequently reviewed the arrangement following difficulties encountered in some states, resulting in the decision to directly intervene in the payment of compensation where necessary.
He disclosed that about N18 billion had been paid as compensation for affected properties in Lagos State to facilitate the construction of major road projects, assuring that the same approach would be applied to the Cross River-Abuja corridor.
“We paid N18 billion in Lagos State. So, why will it come to this area and we will not do the same thing? I can assure that we will pay,” he said.
The minister further disclosed that about N168 million had already been paid in another affected location, while compensation would also be provided for properties affected by the proposed Ukwuachi flyover and the road linking the area to Benue State.
He, however, expressed concern over the initial valuation of affected properties, which reportedly put the compensation requirement at about N6 billion.
Umahi directed a review of the valuation, saying the figure was too high and could substantially deplete funds required for the actual construction of the road.
“They have done the enumeration which came to about N6 billion. If we pay N6 billion, we will not have money to build the road. So, I said they should review it and as soon as they review it, within 72 hours, I will approve for them to be paid,” he said.
The minister stressed that prompt payment of compensation would help prevent disputes, litigation and other bottlenecks capable of delaying the project.
The first section of the superhighway covers about 123.5 kilometres from Cross River through Ebonyi to the Benue boundary, while the second section, measuring about 168 kilometres, runs through Benue, parts of Enugu and Kogi before terminating at Wote in Nasarawa State and linking Abuja.
Umahi said the completed highway would transform transportation along the corridor, while improving security, trade and other economic activities in communities connected by the road.