Compensation battle may stall N76b Calabar-Itu road project

Work on Calabar-Itu road for which the Federal Government has released N79billion to Sematech Construction Company, is being hindered by demand for the payment of compensation to displaced people and communities.

The former Nigerian Ambassador to Uganda, Etubom Asuquo, made this known in Calabar while commenting on the pace of work on the road.

Asuquo, one of the traditional leaders in the area, said work on the rehabilitation of the Calabar-Itu road project on Odukpani axis, undertaken by the Federal Government, might not be completed on schedule, following threat by five communities along the road corridors to stop work by June, if adequate compensation was not paid to them for the properties lost, due to the road expansion.

He said on the Cross River State axis of the project, the government divided the contract into two and gave same to Julius Berger and Sematech.

“Julius Berger has fulfilled its aspect of the contract terms by paying compensation before moving to site. But Sematech is doing a different thing,’ Asuquo added.

He said five communities along the road corridor had given Sematech till middle of June to pay compensation.

He noted that the road work would displace a lot of people, as houses, petrol stations, factories, farmlands and business premises would be demolished.

Asuquo alleged that the company handling the road had fallen foul of the local content requirement, as it had not employed even one casual worker from the area or given one person an LPO to supply anything to them.

Stressing his lack of confidence in the firm to carry out a job of that magnitude, Asuquo said the indigenes and residents should benefit from the road, urging the company to do the needful. (The Nation)