Abia Government Meets Host Community Says Compensations Paid
Abia State Government has paid compensation to landowners in Nsulu host community for land along the airport runway Outstanding cases are being handled individually as government officials and community leaders provide clarity .
The Abia State Government led by Governor Alex Otti has met with the Nsulu host community in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area to address concerns over compensation for land acquired for the state airport project At the meeting government officials assured the people that the majority of landowners had already received payment and explained what remains to be done .
Background to the Compensation Dispute
Earlier some members of the Nsulu community had protested what they described as unfair treatment claiming they had not been compensated for lands affected by the expansion of the airport runway Their main concerns were around lack of transparency incomplete documentation and delays in disbursement .
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Government Response and Progress So Far
During a fact finding visit to Nsulu the Chief of Staff to the Governor Caleb Ajagba accompanied by the Commissioner for Lands and Housing Chaka Chukwumerije confirmed that about three thousand five hundred landowners had been compensated Ajagba explained that those still awaiting payment were mostly people whose indemnity certificates had not been fully processed or who had issues with their bank accounts He further clarified that a few parcels of land mistakenly cleared by contractors but not originally included in the survey had been accounted for and settled with the affected families .
Outstanding Issues
While government officials noted that significant progress has been made they admitted that a number of landowners are still unpaid These cases are now being addressed individually The main obstacles include incomplete indemnity certificates problems with bank details and discrepancies in land records especially for parcels not initially captured in the enumeration exercise .
Voices from Government and Community
Speaking at the meeting Caleb Ajagba stressed that delays were not deliberate but were caused by necessary administrative processes The Commissioner for Lands and Housing Chaka Chukwumerije added that every outstanding case would be resolved on a case by case basis until all genuine claims are cleared On the community side a local leader Echezola Ukaumunna welcomed the government delegation and said the visit had helped clear up many misconceptions He however criticized the traditional ruler for failing to adequately inform the people about what the government had been doing .
Community Attitude and Support
Despite earlier tensions the Nsulu community expressed that they were not against the airport project itself Their main concern was ensuring fairness and transparency in compensation With government assurances many residents signaled willingness to cooperate provided promises are honored .
The Way Forward
Authorities emphasized that the immediate priority is for every affected landowner to complete indemnity documentation and resolve any banking issues so that payments can be finalized Unresolved cases will continue to receive individual attention and community leaders urged traditional institutions to improve communication so that accurate information reaches the people promptly .
Significance of the Airport Project
The Abia Airport project is a flagship infrastructure initiative for the state It requires acquisition of land for the runway access roads and related facilities Compensation has therefore become a critical part of its social impact Government officials stressed that fair and transparent compensation not only builds community trust but also ensures smooth progress for the project .
Conclusion
The Abia State Government has made notable progress in paying compensation to landowners affected by the airport project Although a few cases remain unresolved officials are confident that outstanding issues will be addressed soon Community leaders have welcomed the explanations and called for better communication to avoid future misunderstandings With cooperation from both sides the airport project is expected to move forward with greater understanding and support .