Akwa Ibom State government has started paying N2 billion as compensation to property and crop owners on IBB Avenue, Uyo, who were affected by the flood control drainage project.
Charles Udoh, the state Commissioner for Environment, disclosed this on Tuesday, saying 499 persons have benefitted from the first phase of the compensation and the next phase of payment would begin next week.
The commissioner said the 8.4km drainage project is expected to be completed before the rains as excavation and casting have been completed in some places.
He added that before the rain starts, it is expected that a lot of work would have been done to enable the drains to carry flood water before the rains start.
Udoh said, “The project was awarded to China Roads and Bridges Corporation after an international bidding process last year May, with a 19-month completion period. The World Bank is providing N12 billion and the state is providing the N2 billion for compensation.
“The drains, which would be covered in built-up areas, would cover a stretch of 8.4km and would be as deep as 10.10m in some places, and as much as 8m wide, carrying about 50,000 metres of water per second.
“The project is designed to carry floodwaters from IBB Avenue to Ibesikpo, cutting across 17 communities, excluding the four communities that host the construction yard. The 17 communities cut across Uyo, Nsit Ibom and Ibesikpo Asutan council.”
