Houses To Give Way For Road Project

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Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has urged beneficiaries of Government Residential Layout, Ikot Effanga in Calabar Municipality to adhere to due process before erecting structures or any form of development.

Speaking while inspecting on-going construction of road infrastructure within the layout, Imoke said this was imperative because certain individuals acquired their plots of land through the wrong procedure and the houses they built that are obstructing the right of way will be demolished.

Imoke, who was received by the Consultant at the project site, Eng Bassey Usang Bassey, however, stated that compensation will only be paid to home owners who received approvals, adding that severe penalty awaits court officials who fraudulently issued Certificate of Occupancy and approval of plans to those who are erecting their buildings on site without government approval.

The governor enjoined staff of the Department of Surveys and the Ministry of Lands and Housing to take inventory of all structures under construction and determine if they were duly approved as compensation will be paid to those with approval whose houses block the road, saying that modalities will be worked out for allotees to pay their fee within two years while revenue accruing from there will be used to service envisaged infrastructure within the site.

He called for a meeting of all stakeholders in the project to determine how some portions of the land were allocated because there has been complaints about fraud and encroachment as the meeting will enable them get all the documentation as well as infrastructure designs of the allocated plots.

Eng. Bassey Ika Oqua, Commissioner for Lands and Housing in an interview, disclosed that any development within the layout that has not received approval have been declared illegal and will be demolished.

According to Oqua, buildings erected on the right of way will be pulled down because it will be professionally unwise to divert such roads since compensation will be paid to those who acquired their allocation legally and another allocation be given to them.

Oqua explained that it is good to build according to the design of envisaged layout because it will give the estate a befitting outlook.

The infrastructure design of the estate will include roads, drains, car park and recreational centres.

The Governor later visited the Ikot Awatim ravine erosion control site, where Mr. Venatius Ikem Commissioner for Works, informed him that an alternate route is being designed to replace the ravaging channel to safeguard it from a total collapse.

At the Ikot Uduak erosion control site being handled by Ekpe Ara and Partners, Ikem said the first phase of the on-going work will be completed in June.

While at the College of Health Technology, the governor directed the Director General of the Cross River State Road Maintenance Agency, Mr. Tom Agi to ensure that the asphalted road network is extended to the college’s main administrative block with drains and Kerb walk way and effort made to reinforce the fence from further threats.

Facilities inspected include the ultra-modern assembly hall, collapsed fence of the college, as well as the new road network. He inspected the office of the proposed Cross River State Geographic Information Service (CRGIS) within the upgraded Department of Survey/Town Planning.

Senator Liyel Imoke also inspected the new Cross River State House of Assembly Office complex which is about ninety percent completed.

The governor was conducted round the office complex by the leadership of the Cross River State House of Assembly, led by the Speaker, Hon. Francis Adah.

—Emmanuel Una/Calabar

 

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