A federal road construction by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc at Nkim Itam in Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom state has reportedly been “stopped” by one Bernard Ekpenyong.
According to ForeFront, Ukpong Nkereuwen, the federal
controller of works in the state, alleged that Ekpenyong had employed the
services of some youth of the community to disrupt the project.
He was also alleged to have planted fetish objects on the
equipment being used by the construction company at the site of the project.
Trouble started when Ekpenyong reportedly claimed that the
road project had caused his filling station to be flooded.
According to the newspaper, Julius Berger had, in May 2020,
drawn the attention of the state’s ministry of works to “the poor channeling of
huge surface runoff water from a nearby automobile assembling company” which
could cause flooding.
The ministry was said to have obtained approval from its
headquarters in Abuja for the drainage to be enlarged, while financial
compensation would be paid to owners of the affected properties.
However, Ekpenyong was said to have insisted on being paid
first before the new drainage system could be channelled across the entrance of
his petrol station.
A source at the ministry of works was quoted as saying all
entreaties to make Ekpenyong see reason fell on deaf ears, and consequently,
the drainage became flooded by heavy rain which affected his filling station.
“All entreaties by the ministry for Ekpenyong to let the
works progress before the advent of the rain, considering its real potential
for flooding issues, fell on deaf ears,” the source reportedly said.
“Every attempt to convince Ekpenyong that payment would be
made to him and others even as the construction would be progressing was
equally rebuffed.
“That was how Ekpenyong obstructed the flood prevention
works until the rains came and worsened the water discharge from the nearby
auto assembly company to cause the flooding problem for which Ekpenyong is now
seeking a damage claim of almost N200 million from the FG.”
The source also alleged that Ekpenyong and some other community
members “have since been paid the compensation approved for the new drainage
design which he is now obstructing”.
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