Chief Jasper Jumbo, an elder statesman in Jumbo Major House, Bonny Local Government area of Rivers, has urged the Federal Government to properly integrate youths and local contractors of Bonny extraction into the ongoing Bodo/Bonny road project for the sake of fairness and equity.
TBI Africa said Jombo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Port Harcourt that the Federal Government’s Bodo/Bonny road project got about 60 per cent of its landmark from the Jumbo Major House’ ancestral land.
He, however, lamented the non-inclusion of youths and local contractors of the host community in the project.
The elder statesman said that in spite of series of written complaints to the office of the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo and the Minister for Works, Mr Raji Fasola on the matter, the situation had yet to be addressed.
“It’s sad that there is no proper harmonisation with the actual communities that own the land upon which the road construction in being done.
“We have received complaints from the people of Bodo, Bonny and, especially the Jumbo Major House who own more than 60 per cent of the road alignment.
“The Minister of Works has refused the indigenes of Jumbo Major House an official representation in the recently inaugurated 17- man peace committee.
“There is no sub-contract to our people from the contracting firm Julius Begger, no compensation to them as owners of the land and no employment opportunities for our youths, so what kind of anti-people policy is that?”
Jumbo also said that till date, Julius Begger on its part had yet to consult the people on whose ancestral land the road network was situated.
“As at today, Julius Begger has not consulted the people who own 60 per cent of the Bodo/Bonny road landmark.
“We even consulted a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who had written to the Works Minister and the Vice-President Osibanjo.
“As we speak, we have yet to get any response from to these letters; I urge relevant authorities to harmonize these differences and ensure that our people benefit from the road construction,” he said.
