From TCNEWS
The Federal Government has begun the fulfilment of traditional rites to five Communities in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State prior to the Mass Housing Project groundbreaking ceremony of the Federal Housing Authority, FHA.
Speaking when he visited respectively the people of Attah-Ikeaha; Emede Mkpuru; Umuawa (Opara na Nkaru), Umuawa Alaocha, Umuda, and Umuire communities, the Liaison Officer of FHA, Mr. Emenike Onu, assured that compensation must be paid to the communities involved before the actual work starts at the site.
He recalled that series of community engagement/public enlightenment outreaches had already taken place and the Communities had also approved that the project be sited in their lands.
Onu who also understood the concerns of the people about the loss of their farmlands, reminded them that government’s development agenda is holistic.
“I want to also reassure you that fair compensation will be paid to every individual, family or community whose land was acquired”, Onu maintained.
He assured further that members of the Communities will be carried along from the project site clearing to the realization of the mass housing project.
Lending his voice, a Lands Officer, Mr. Henry Onyenweaku, pointed out that the Housing project was for the best interest of all Abians and for the development of the State Capital.
He said that the present administration under Dr. Alex Otti has a human face, which informed the reason he engaged the communities in series of dialogue before the traditional rites is performed in preparation of the ground breaking ceremony of the mass housing.
He encouraged the communities to embrace the project and support the good intentions of the government.
In their responses, the Traditional Ruler of Attah Emede Autonomous Community, Aljan Eze Okpokiri; High Chief Ugochukwu Emmanuel Ibe, President General of Emede Ibeku Development Union; Mr. Ikechukwu Okezie, Chairman Attah-Ikeaha village; Chief Nnamdi Mathew, President General of Umuire Development Union; Apostle Barnabas Onyebuchi; Bishop Godwin Emole, Isingwu Autonomous Community Traditional Prime Minister, Mr. Christopher Onwuegbu among others, appreciated the Federal Government and Governor Alex Otti for their developmental strides but appealed that the concerns of the people, which include payment of compensation, road construction, portable pipe borne water, employment among others be taken into consideration.
