Benue pays N7.1bn compensation to property owners affected by federal road projects

The Benue State Government has spent about N7.1 billion on compensation for properties and other interests affected by federal road projects across the state.

The Director of Civil Engineering in the state Ministry of Works, Engr. Tivfa Wombo, disclosed this during an inspection of ongoing road projects in Makurdi led by the Commissioner for Works, Hon. Aii Yenge.

Wombo provided details of the government’s financial interventions while briefing the newly appointed commissioner and journalists on projects being executed by the ministry and other measures taken to support road construction across the state.

He said N5 billion had been paid as compensation for properties within the right-of-way of the Makurdi-Enugu road dualisation project.

According to him, the road project is a Federal Government initiative currently being executed from the Wurukum axis towards the Benue-Nugu boundary.

He explained that the compensation was approved by Governor Hyacinth Alia to ensure that the required corridor was made available to the Federal Government and contractors working on the project.

Wombo said the payment represented part of the state’s contribution towards federal road projects being implemented in Benue.

He further disclosed that another N1.3 billion was paid to compensate affected interests around Wurukum and facilitate construction activities in the area.

Among those affected, he said, were military and immigration facilities, shops around the rice market, banks, Shafa filling station and other filling stations located within the road’s right-of-way.

The director added that the state government also released N800 million in compensation for properties affected by road construction activities in Buruku.

He explained that some structures affected by the River Buruku bridge project belonged to individuals who complied with the government’s compensation process before their properties were demolished to pave the way for construction.

Wombo said the various payments formed part of the Alia administration’s interventions through the Ministry of Works to support the implementation of federal road projects in the state.

He also clarified that the Wurukum flyover was a separate project from the Wurukum-Air Force Base-Tyomu road.

According to him, Governor Alia lobbied the Federal Government for the flyover, which was eventually approved and provided by the Federal Government.

He added that the flyover was presented as a Federal Government contribution to Benue during its flag-off by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi.

Wombo said the Ministry of Works had fulfilled its responsibilities regarding the projects discussed, noting that the interventions were aimed at removing obstacles and ensuring the smooth execution of federal road projects across Benue.