Fed Govt compensates 1,200 residents over power line demolition
•Raises N10b for beneficiaries Federal Government has compensated 1,200 residents of Imo State, including 80-year-old Patrick Okafor, for demolishing their properties to make way for a transmission power line project.
•Raises N10b for beneficiaries
- Our Reporters
Federal Government has compensated 1,200 residents of Imo State, including 80-year-old Patrick Okafor, for demolishing their properties to make way for a transmission power line project.
The government paid out N10 billion, part of a $42.45 million joint funding with the African Development Bank (AFDB).
Speaking in Owerri, Imo State, during the cheque presentation ceremony, Okafor, an Aju indigene in Oru West Local Government, thanked the Federal Government for the compensation.
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The cheques were presented by officials from the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Ministry of Finance and African Development Bank (AFDB).
He said he had lived on the land for over 40 years, but was unaware of the transmission line until the demolition, saying: “At least the money will enable me to resettle elsewhere. I am happy for the Federal Government gesture.”
The project, launched in 2019, involves reconstructing a 138km 330KV transmission line from Alaoji, Abia State to Onitsha, Anambra State.
Okafor was among the beneficiaries who received compensation, highlighting the government’s effort to implement the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and clear the Right of Way (ROW) for the project.
The traditional ruler of Utulu, Igwe Umuhu/Umuezem Otulu, HRH Eze B Nnabue, praised the Federal Government, saying: “If the Federal Government was wicked, they wouldn’t have paid compensation to the affected people. We knew those buildings on the right of way were under high tension.”
He advised residents to be cautious when building on government property by ensuring they are at least 20 feet away.
Assistant General Manager, Health, Safety and Environment, Project Implementation Unit(HSE-PIU TCN), Aromeh Adole, said the Federal Government decided to upgrade the power lines due to increased population and power consumption demand.
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“The existing lines couldn’t meet the growing demand, so we’re replacing the single circuit line with one that has four times the capacity to boost power supply in Eastern Nigeria.”
Adole explained that the project involved enumerating and valuing affected properties, which began in 2019 and 2023.
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“We captured everyone affected, including those wrongly under the line, businesses, traders and artisans. If you were missed, we have a complaint desk and a Deviance Redress Unit with traditional rulers to document and address your concerns.”
According to Adole, 1,200 people were captured in Imo State and 702 in Abia State.
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He thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for releasing N10 billion in counterpart funding, saying: “The government is borrowing from the African Development Bank, but it’s responsible for supporting the project, handling taxes, customs clearance and compensation.”
Acting Project Manager, TCN-AFDB-PIU,
Edeh Obiora, said the project spanned 138km from Alaoji, Abia State to Onitsha, Anambra State, and cost $42.56 million.
“The Federal Government has released a portion of the funds, and ADB will provide the loan, while the government pays the counterpart funding.”
