THE proposed inland container depot, otherwise known as dry port, to be built at Isisala Ngwa in Abia State may have to remain in the cooler for a longer time as the state government bluntly told officials of the Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) yesterday that it will not pay the controversial compensation for the land acquired for the project since it is a commercial investment.
Payment of compensation has been the reason given by the NSC for the delay in the take off of the project which was among the eight proposed by the federal government across the country. For the Isiala Ngwa project, 1000 hectares of land was acquired about six years ago and the various communities that donated their lands have been demanding compensation amounting to about N100 million.
Sometime last year, the communities threatened to take back their land for farming activities since, according to them, the federal government appeared not to be interested in the project any longer. However, officials of the NSC have been assuring them that efforts were being made to pay them, adding that Abia State would soon release the required amount.
But when the chairman of the NSC board, Alhaji Ali Olaniyi led other board members, including the executive secretary of NSC, Captain Adamu Biu on a courtesy call on Governor Orji Uzor Kalu yesterday with a view to convincing him to provide the money for the payment of the compensation, the governor said his administration would not do a thing like that.
According to the governor, he signed the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O ) for the land five years ago and handed the certificate to the then minister of transport, Chief Ojo Maduekwe because of the insinuation that it was the Certificate of Occupancy that was delaying the project.
“You people did not pay a dime because government waived everything. But the state government cannot pay the compensation for the land acquired for the project. This is beyond government since there is no budgetary provision for it. Government can only pay compensation where it concerns building of schools, hospitals or non – profitable projects. But for this one which is purely an investment, this administration is totally against dealing with the communities that are going to be your life time partners. So, it is better for the Council to deal with that issue.”