GOVT SETS LAND ACQUISITION COMMITTEE FOR ABIA AIRPORT
REPORTER: PEACE AGBO
A Joint Technical Committee to facilitate acquisition of the proposed land for Abia Airport project in Nsulu, Isialangwa North Local Government Area has been inaugurated.
The essence of the inauguration is to ensure payment of compensation to rightful owners of the acquired land for the proposed airport.
Inaugurating the Committee during a crucial meeting between the host communities of the proposed Abia Airport at the Banquet Hall, Government House Umuahia, the Chief of Staff to the Governor and Chairman of the Committee, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, alongside the leader of the land owners’ delegation, Mr. Uzor Azubuike, announced that both parties had agreed to resolve certain grey areas.
In a communiqué jointly signed by Pastor Ajagba for the government and Mr. Azubuike for the Nsulu Airport land owners, the parties agreed to work together considering issues that might arise in the course of executing the project.
This is as the government resolved to reduce the size of the land formerly acquired from 1,800 to 1,325 hectares.
Both parties further agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would be drafted to guide all the parties for the duration of the project as it concerned what the host communities would benefit from the project upon completion.
The state government, however, assured the land owners of the transparency in its deals and promised to pay adequate and full compensation while involving the land owners in the project development process.
The Nsulu people in the communiqué commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving an airstrip for the state and lauded Governor Alex Otti for upgrading the airstrip to an airport and for choosing Nsulu for the Airport project.
Some land owners, Mrs. Kate Nnanna, Nneoha Roseline Orji and Mr. Martin Ajuonu expressed joy that government called them for dialogue.
They pledged their cooperation for the actualization of the project while urging the government to keep to its promise.
EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU
