By Ibrahim Garba
Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has announced that his administration will no longer wait for the Federal Government to compensate landowners affected by ongoing road and airport projects in the state.
Speaking after the 4th State Executive Council meeting, Governor Otu stated that his government is taking proactive steps to ensure that construction work on the Calabar-Uyo federal highway and the Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport progresses without delays due to compensation issues.
He revealed that the state government has allocated Four Hundred Million Naira (N400,000,000.00) for compensating landowners affected by the road expansion on the Calabar-Itu highway, particularly in the Odukpani axis. Governor Otu emphasized that this initiative aims to prevent any hindrance to the ongoing reconstruction work.
However, Otu clarified that the responsibility for compensating dislocated persons and affected structures ultimately lies with the Federal Government. He reiterated that only those whose properties were identified in the original demolition plan would be compensated by the state government.
Regarding the Obudu International Passenger and Cargo Airport project, Commissioner for Aviation, Capt. Eno Utum Inah (rtd), assured affected communities of the government’s commitment to resolving compensation issues. He acknowledged that some individuals had concerns about the compensation process but assured that the Ministry of Aviation is actively addressing these issues and collaborating with relevant agencies to ensure a fair resolution.
