The Monarchs along the corridor at the stakeholders meeting with Engr. Kesha
For the umpteenth time, the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Works with the support of African Development Bank and European Union sensitized stakeholders along the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor to stay away from the right of road because it has been gazetted by previous administration.
Newsconnect reports that the stakeholders meeting along the corridor was an update of what had been done before.
The Lagos Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works Engr. Akorede Kesha in her opening message said if there are issues that have not been addressed, they want to archive it, treat it because they won’t be patient enough to entertain any question during execution.
In an interview with journalists at the event, she said;
“We are trying to reintroduce this project that is coming up by ECOWAS. We are reintroducing it to people along this corridor, and then telling them the need to cooperate with government programs, plans and policies.
“We are using this opportunity to tell them that the right of way has being designated, and gazetted by the Federal Government and it is not to be toyed with.
“Because by the time we call, before the enumeration, we already know the people on ground. So new things springing up now will not be entertained and they may not be provided for because the government works according to budget.
“So if we have chosen some people on the right of road to be compensated, and we have given the government budget, if new things are coming up, it is at their own cost. That is the reason for this meeting.
“Sensitizing people on the need to stay away on the right of roads that the project is coming. Like i tell people, when we say government is coming, they will be praying that Government should not come because of their own selfish reasons, the small small benefits it is bringing to them not minding the general and overall benefits that it will bring to all of us.
“By the time the government comes, we will not be able to entertain people’s views, opinions, that is why we want their views and opinions count now so that it can be incorporated by the time we come for execution.
“The project is about the people and the people must have a say.
“There is nothing that was said here today we haven’t taken into consideration in the design of this project. Nothing new has been said. It is just a Wake up call to say that this project is coming up”. She said
The Oniba of Iba in an interview with journalists at the event said the sensitisation is a good idea.
“We stakeholders always appreciate good things and we are okay with it. With regards to terms of compensation, the government has already done what they want for all of us, we just have to be patient at it, everything will be okay”. He said .
Another traditional ruler along the corridor at the event said many buildings have sprung up within the main road since the last sensitization they had with ECOWAS on compensation and relocation. He said;
“If we want to go about this construction of ten lanes, so many buildings will be affected. Our people need more education so that people will not build again, so that the compensation can be minimal. We that are ready to get our compensation, it will be enough for us”.
A CDA chairman along the corridor who spoke at the event said the beauty of every international road is the light of that road. He said the light must be on all the time, that it would help people to drive safely.
He also said there will be need to sensitize stakeholders on minimum centimeter for road expansion.
“Some people feel it is 30 to the left and 30 to the right. If the minimum is 45.72, a lot of people will be effected. Some people have formed their mind that the expansion is 30 from the center of the road to the right and to the left.
“If you go beyond that now, maybe there will be need to remobilize people on this particular expansion”. He said
Engr Kesha in her response said 45.72 is the minimum.
“We have gazetted the right of way on the right and left of the road but in some cases we gazetted 60 to the right and to the left. The median is 17meters just to accomodate the BRT.
“What we are saying is, it is already gazeted, it is not what am saying in my head, it is just like a bible and quran, it was already written down. It’s either you take it or you leave it.
“If anybody is talking to you, the person is not an authority, as an authority, as an emissary of the federal government, i am telling you and it is my own you should take”.
Representative of the youths, Chairman of NURTW along the corridor showed satisfaction when their respective questions were answered. The youth leaders on ground were charged to reorientate young persons so they can be more focused and demand the right things.
The Project Director Communication and visibility Study for the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Highway Development Project David Nwedu among other things at the stakeholders meeting talked about the immediate benefit of Abidjan-Lagos Corridor road and the findings of the study of resettlement action plan.
He said when the construction starts, there will be engagement of local labour, there will be increase in commercial activities because many people would come to work, things like accomodations, things like food.
“There is also going to be some negatives side of that which is like social interaction, sexual transmitted diseases happen when people interact. We have sensitized people along this corridor on that. So all these are going to happen when the construction starts.
“Exposure to international trade. There is going to be influx of international trade. There will be cooperation, as ECOWAS there will be integration. You can drive from here to cotedvoire without anybody stopping you”. He said.