By Meletus EZE
Sen, Ita Enag, an aide to President Muhammadu, has said that compensation will be paid for only the existing structures in 1976/77 with approved building plans on the Calabar-Itu federal road now under construction.
Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate),
said this on Monday, while inspecting the dualisation project at the Itam axis of the road.
He said that the Federal Government would not pay any compensation on new structures that sprang up when the Federal Government started dualising the road.
The presidential aide said he was in Akwa Ibom to inspect the work done on the road by Julius Berger.
He said that he was also in the state to take a prospective contractor, Arab Contractors Nig. Ltd. on recognisance visit of an 18 kilometre road project to be awarded by the federal government.
“I have observed that on the Calabar-Itu road, particularly from Oku Iboku, Ikot Ukap Itam and Mbak Obio Item, people have started building many huts and kiosks along the road.
“I want to tell them that government will not pay for such structurdes.
“This is because before the contract was awarded and project announced there was a recognisance that showed the properties that were to be compensated for.
“So, you don’t just see the company coming and then you go to build something that was not taken account of at the time the cost of the project was determined.
“People should know that before you are paid any compensation, you have to have building plan approval, an approval that showed that you have right to build in that place.
“That approval to build shows that you owned the land. It is not because you erect the structure and you are entitled for compensation.
“You must be the person that owns the land and it must have been part of the area that was acquired during the 1976/77 construction of that road,” he said.
He advised those building along the road to steer clear the shoulder of the road, drains and areas kept for setback to avoid federal government wrath.
He said that Buhari was committed to the construction and completion of the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road.
Enang said Julius Berger would work from kilometre 60 in Itam to Ayadehe Bridge in Itu Local Government Area while another contractor would handle from that point to Ibiakpan junction by Uyo-Ikot Ekpene road.
He said that funds were already available in the 2018 budget for the 18 kilometre road project.
Also speaking, Mr Nkereuwem Ukpong, Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, Akwa Ibom, said apart from Calabar-Itu road project, the federal government had also awarded Abak- Ekparakwa -Ette road contract.
“We have other projects that are still under construction in the state; you cannot measure them in kilometres because they are bridge projects.
“Already there is N11billion for this project in the 2018 budget; it has not been used yet. So there is money for the construction of this road.
“We came for recognisance with the contractor that is going to execute the project. After that, we do the measurement and carry out the design, then the procurement process will follow,” he said.
