The Federal Government has approved payments to identified land owners in Awi and other communities in Akamkpa LGA of Cross River State, whose lands were affected by the ongoing construction of the Calabar-Lagos Coastal Highway at Section 3A/3B axis.
In an interview in Calabar, the Federal Controller of works in Cross River State, Engr. Yinka Onafuye, said the land owners have been verified and documented.
He said other processes are ongoing before the payment will be disbursed.
Section 3A/3B, the starting point of the Calabar end of the highway, is mostly a forest area and buildings were not pulled down when the contractors opened up the axis.
Speaking on the underground water which the contractors complained was slowing the progress of the work, Onafuye acknowledged that the rains have led to the rise of the water level.
The controller said they will continue to work with the earlier soil tests they did before the contract was signed.
Onafuye argued that the issue of unforseen and unbudgeted expenditures cannot yet be talked about.
He assured that the Federal Government was determined to complete the highway project in 36 months.
However, the contractors of the project have doubted the possibility of meeting the delivery date due to challenges posed by rocky terrains, weather and underground waters.
An engineer working on the site, who pleaded not to be named, said, “We have the challenge of underground water which keeps surging, coupled with the continual rainfalls. These have slowed the progress of work so much.”
