~ FG to pay over N6bn for demolition of 355 buildings
Anambra state stakeholders, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN and the BGM, the Consulting firm for the Alaoji -Onitsha Power line, have met in the state on the compensation issues.
The compensation of 355 buildings to be demolished to actualize the project will gulp about 6.5 billion naira from the federal government
The TCN project will cut across 15 communities in about three local government areas of Anambra state.
During the meeting,held at the Beautiful Gate Resort in Awka Thursday, Anambra state government’s representatives, traditional rulers and Non governmental organisations were in attendance .
Addressing the stakeholders, the Project Manager and Assistant General Manager,TCN,Engr. Omobola oluwaseun sogo, said the compensation in the North was about N1.8bn, while in the Southeast, FG will pay over N12bn
According to her, compensation alone in Anambra state will take half of the amount mapped out in the Southeast with Abia and Imo states also involved
Sogo, told the stakeholders that the project is a lifetime one for the people, adding,” if you allow this opportunity to slip off and taken to another zone because of disagreement, I bet you it will be difficult to recover it again in this country.
“The federal government has already made available part of the funds for compensation, and once the communities involved come to terms with our discussions, we’re good to go ” Omobola Sogo said
For Ifeanyi Okonkwo, the Assistant General Manager incharge of Anambra state’s TCN, the project started a long time ago and we’re here to talk about the way forward for the project to work.
” It’s going to impact positively on our people, if actualized because anything we’re doing without power may not succeed.
“Alaoji is in Aba, if we were transmitting 100 mega watts before, with the implementation of this project,it will get to 1000 Mega Watts and the businesses will thrive well and complains of shortage of Power will become a thing of the past in this zone.
“Whatever thing we discuss today should be transmitted to our people in our communities to change our lives and conditions ” Okonkwo said
Speaking with reporters after the engagement, Basil Uzodinma, Managing Director ,BGM Limited, said the project will cut across 15 communities in Anambra state.
Further more, he said the compensation to those whose properties are involved will amount to about N6.5bn in Anambra alone, adding that about 355 buildings will be involved in the demolition exercise.
Our people have lost some of the cottage companies who relocated to Ghana and other countries that have steady power supply.
“This is what this project is all about,to correct such anomalies. TCN had sent consultants because some people encroached in our land . We’re not going to allow encroachment to be a profession” Uzodinma said
