…protest Julius Berger’s damage to community property, failure to construct access roads to communities
Ijaw Youth Council, IYC, some elders of Ijaw National Congress INC Eastern Zone and the Leadership of Citizens Of Kingdoms And City States (COKACS) on Monday defied the heavy rains to halt work on the Promised Land section of the Bodo – Bonny road being undertaken by Julius Berger Nigeria PLC.
The protesters said they had to Strom the site because of the damage the contractor had done to some communal land and the failure of the contractor to open up access to the communities on that section of the road.
The protest temporarily halted the Construction work, which resumed after pleas by the company representatives.
Speaking to National Point, The Shepherd of Citizens Of Kingdoms And City States,COKACS and Head of Promise Land Community Jumbo House in Bonny Kingdom Kalada Jene, said, “We want Julius Berger to construct access roads to the eight communities they have blocked access to as a result of the road construction with and pay compensation for the damages they caused.
“We are protesting against Julius Berger and demanding that they construct access roads to the various communities and pay compensation for the damages they have caused. Julius Berger went into my farm and dug up sand which has caused erosion. I have spent over N5million trying to restore my damaged properties”.
The Community Liaison Officer (CLO), who simply identified himself as Banigo and the engineer from the Federal Ministry of Works supervising the project, Mark Asuquo, promised to revisit the section of the roads complained of and to construct the access roads to the communities along the road for economic and social benefits of the residents.
