By joshua Superhighway: Ebonyi community decries looming hunger, seeks compensation for destroyed crops
By Our Correspondent
The traditional ruler, leaders and stakeholders of Ndiebor Ishieke Autonomous Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have called on the Federal Government and contractors handling the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway project to compensate farmers whose crops and farmlands were allegedly destroyed during borrow-pit excavation.
The community warned that the alleged destruction of yam, cassava, rice, millet, beniseed and other crops could worsen food insecurity and economic hardship among residents who depend largely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
The stakeholders made the demands on Thursday during a meeting with representatives of the construction company and project liaison officers at Alibaruhu Ishieke, where they also called for the reclamation of excavated borrow pits, an end to further encroachment on cultivated farmlands without prior consultation, and the documentation of agreements reached with affected landowners.
Speaking on behalf of the community, its traditional ruler, His Royal Highness Eze Hyacinth Awoke Nwiboko, said the residents supported the federal government’s road project but were concerned about the manner in which borrow pits were being opened on farmlands without what they considered adequate consultation and compensation.
The monarch urged the contractors to respect the community’s land ownership arrangements and cultural traditions, particularly regarding the use of its forest reserve as a source of laterite for road construction in other areas.
He called on the government and the construction company to address the grievances of affected residents without undermining the anticipated economic benefits of the superhighway.
Also speaking, a community stakeholder, High Chief Boniface Okpete, said the residents were not opposed to the project but were worried that the destruction of their farms could jeopardise their food supply and economic survival.
“We are not crying because they are taking laterite. We are crying because our future may not be secure if our sources of livelihood are destroyed,” he said.
Okpete urged the contractors to notify and negotiate with landowners before excavating laterite from farms that were not originally designated for the project.
He demanded appropriate compensation for affected farmers and the reclamation of all borrow pits after excavation to restore the affected areas to productive use and prevent possible accidents.
The stakeholder also questioned the sourcing of laterite from the community for construction activities in neighbouring areas, including Ezza land, arguing that the arrangement required further explanation and consultation with the landowners.
“We have a reserved forest belonging to our community, where suitable laterite can be sourced. We want the authorities to explain why our farmlands are being affected while the community’s reserve is available for consideration,” he said.
Okpete acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi in facilitating development projects in the area but insisted that infrastructure development should not come at the expense of residents’ livelihoods.
In his remarks, the Secretary-General of Ndiebor Ishieke Autonomous Community, Dr Patrick Nwajioha, said the community welcomed the road project but was concerned about the environmental and economic implications of the excavation activities.
Nwajioha said farmers had complained that their yam, cassava, rice and other food crops were being destroyed to obtain laterite for construction, despite assurances that affected farmlands would be identified and consultations conducted before excavation.
He listed the community’s demands to include compensation for destroyed crops, an end to excavation on cultivated farmland without prior consultation, and the reclamation of borrow pits after construction activities.
The secretary-general also called for clarification on the use of laterite sourced from the community for projects in other areas, urging the contractor to engage the traditional ruler, community leaders and individual landowners to resolve the dispute and prevent further damage to agricultural land.
Responding, the General Supervisor of Infiouest, the construction company, Majed Abu Jaoude, said he would communicate the community’s grievances to the company’s management for consideration.
Jaoude said he attended the meeting as a staff member and lacked the authority to make final commitments on the demands raised by the stakeholders. He acknowledged their concerns and promised to relay them to the appropriate authorities within the company.
Similarly, Nkama Williams Chima, liaison officer and Chief Security Officer of Reinforced Global Resources Limited, said the representatives at the meeting would convey the community’s concerns to their principals for a response.
Chima appealed to the stakeholders to remain calm while the issues were being addressed, maintaining that the company did not deliberately intend to undermine the community’s interests.
He added that the reclamation of borrow pits would be undertaken when weather conditions were favourable.
Earlier, Simon Odoh, a liaison officer for the road project, said the meeting was convened to facilitate engagement with the contractor and assess environmental concerns arising from the federal government’s project in the community.
Other community representatives, including Chief Stephen Nwele, called for the documentation of resolutions reached at the meeting, particularly those relating to consultations with landowners, compensation for affected crops and the reclamation of excavated sites.
They urged the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractor to intervene promptly, warning that continued destruction of farmland without satisfactory arrangements could deepen food insecurity and economic hardship among residents.
The community maintained that it supported the construction of the superhighway but insisted that its implementation must respect local land rights, protect agricultural livelihoods and provide adequate safeguards against the dangers posed by abandoned borrow pits.
However, the contractor’s representatives did not announce any specific compensation package or timeline for resolving the community’s demands at the meeting.