Three communities in Cross River State have appealed to federal, international agencies, including well- meaning individuals to help persuade the state government to pay them compensations for their economic crops, forests and houses destroyed for the proposed 276 kilometre Calabar-Ikom-Katsina Ala superhighway project.
Speaking for the Iko Esai, Owai and Ifumkpa communities in Akamkpa Local Government Area of the state, the clan head, Aita Obopht Nelson E. A. Etan and the traditional village head of Iko Esai, Aita Obopht Ohio Wrong Owai, said the state government destroyed their lands without consultation or caring to pay them compensation.
At the press meeting in the palace of the clan head, the monarchs said if they are not compensated their people would join others to disrupt the project whenever it would be embarked upon.
Following pressure from concerned individuals, environmental agencies and international organisations, the Federal Ministry of Environment had ordered the Gov Ben Ayade government to halt it until Environmental Impact Assessment was carried out and approved.
So far, the Federal Government had rejected three of such EIA and only gave conditional approval to the fourth until 23 specified conditions were met in two weeks since mid-2017.
Two clan heads, in a statement, said, “As communities, we are not aware of any of the conditions that have been met by the government – not even the condition that directs them to consult with the communities involved and pay compensation. What we have lost can be estimated in billions of naira.”
They said that the government had misinformed the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo, when he visited to promise Federal Government’s support to the project.
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