Natives, whose land were acquired to create Right of Way (ROW) for the Second Niger Bridge (Phases 2A and 2B), protested on Thursday demanding compensation by Federal government.
The protesters, from Delta State and neighbouring Anambra State, stormed Asaba, the State capital and protested along Okpanam road against what they called Fashola’s inhumanity and reckless abandonment.
The protest was led by Group Captain Samuel Akaraiwe (rtd), Thomas Adeyemi Agbavobor, Mrs. Grossdale Oveido and Uche Onuorah, They carried placards reading: “Five years, have we committed any offence?” “Fashola, tell Buhari the truth,” “Abacha loot must be used to compensate us,” “Compensation is our right, Diversion is not a solution to the problems,” among others.
Agbavobor, who spoke on behalf of the group, accused the Minister of Works, Babatunde Fashola, of frustrating compensation by the Federal government, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to pay them without delay.
“Five years ago, Federal government came and acquired our property for the construction of Second Niger Bridge and promised payment of compensation, but till date nothing good has been done.
“Recently, we started hearing about plans being made by Federal Government to commission the bridge with a claim by the minister that the project is 95 per cent per cent completed and that phase 2A, Okwe-Okpanam, is left with 4km due to flooding.
“We left the property for them and they demolished most of them in the course of construction, they brought compensation form, we filled and they took our bank details for the payment of compensation,” she narrated, lamenting that the compensation had not been paid.
Oveido also lamented the situation, saying: “We want to let the President know we have not been compensated till date. They did enumeration and valued our property; we went to the Ministry of Works and did all necessary documentation, not knowing that Fashola had plans not to pay us. Now, our property have been vandalised, our land have been acquired by Federal government without compensation, turning us to tenants.”
A widow, Mrs. Christiana Visor, who claimed her husband died in the course of the project, also decried Federal government’s failure to pay competition till date.
“The money should be paid to us with present economic value because the price of cement two years ago is not same today,” she said.