Venco Junction property: Nwifuru Paid N1.6 Billion in Compensation – commissioner

By Nabob Ogbonna, Abakaliki

The Ebonyi State Government revealed yesterday that it has paid over ₦1.6 billion in compensation to property owners at the popular Venco Junction in the state capital, Abakaliki.

No fewer than 80 properties have been demolished, displacing hundreds of individuals and disrupting several business activities due to the ongoing construction of a mega flyover, tunnel, and dual carriageway in the area.

The Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Hon. Matthew Nwaobashi, disclosed this in an interview with journalists in Abakaliki.

According to him, “The state government, led by Rt. Hon. Francis Nwifuru, has paid adequate compensation of ₦1.6 billion to property owners at Venco Junction, where we acquired land. This is part of the mandate of my ministry.

“Also, in the area where we are constructing the State University of ICT, about 15 homes were affected. We have compensated the owners and gone a step further by resettling them. We built new bungalows for them.

“A similar process was followed in Amachara, where we are building Neval Secondary School. We acquired about 20 hectares of land there, and around 11 homes were affected. They, too, have been compensated.

“The same applies to Onueke, where we are developing the University of Aeronautics Engineering and Aerospace. Although we have acquired land in that area, we are yet to pay compensation. However, enumeration of the affected areas has been completed.

“At Ngbo-Agbaja, where we plan to build housing estates, we have also acquired land. Enumeration has been carried out, but compensation is still pending.

“As you can see, we are doing very, very well,” .