Federal government has approved payment of N133 million compensation to five communities in Umunneochi local government area of Abia State whose land was acquired for the construction of trailer parks at Lokpanta Cattle market on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway.
This was stated by Mr. Chukwudike Nwankwo, the Federal Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, said that the ministry would commence the disbursement of the fund to the five involved communities in Umunneochi Local Government Area.
“The Power, Works and Housing Minister, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has given approval for the payment of compensation of about N133 million. It is a very large parcel of land, involving about five communities.
“We will commence the disbursement soon and once we are through, the construction of the park will start,” Nwankwo explained.
Nwankwo explained that the minister had also directed the immediate evacuation of the trailers out of the two lanes of the dual carriageway in order to allow for free-flow of traffic.
He said that the ministry would also erect a block wall to fence off the cattle market from the expressway.
Meanwhile, Fashola has stated that the Federal Government would apply for another intervention from SUKUK so that more money would be made available to the contractors to ensure the completion of the project before the next rainy season.
Fashola expressed delight that the intervention from SUKUK had brought tremendous progress on the road project.
He said that more than 40 per cent of the job had been done by SETRACO and hoped that one side of the dual carriageway would be completed and opened for traffic before December.
