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By Madu Obi
THOSE residing along the Agulu/Nanka road under construction in Anambra State have urged the state government to pay them compensation should their property be demolished.
They made the appeal following the warning by the state government that illegal occupants living in the area should relocate because of the plan to make the road a dual carriage way.
The state government, in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information said that in line with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s plan to bequeath an enduring road network to Anambra people, the government will be embarking on the dualization of the Agulu and Nanka roads.
The Commissioner's statement said: "Though these are federal roads, they are primarily used by Ndi Anambra. Governor Soludo has therefore redesigned them for reconstruction to better facilitate commercial, industrial and agricultural activities across the areas they cut through.
"In the light of this, government wishes to advise property owners along those routes to begin to plan how to relocate them somewhere else."
"The law demands that any property along a federal highway must be set back 47.5 meters from the centre of the road. Anything short of that is in violation of the law and such a property will be regarded and treated as an illegal structure, which we do not wish to happen."
"Government is therefore calling on traditional rulers and Presidents General of the affected communities, as well as market leaders, to escalate the awareness campaign on the need to relocate shops and houses from the brink of these roads."
"The traditional rulers and PGs should also come together to take practical steps to map out areas where those that would be consequently affected can resettle before the construction work commences."
"By this early notice, government wishes to minimize avoidable losses."
Protesting the development, the residents reminded government that the Nigerian Constitution is clear about compensation to every Nigerian whose property is taken compulsorily.
The residents said: "How can a government call people's inherited property/structures illegal?
"Governor Soludo should be ready to pay people their due compensation before destroying their property if he wants this beautiful project to be a success.
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