343 property owners affected by the ongoing erosion control project spanning through several communities in the suburb of Gombe metropolis, on Tuesday, received various amounts as compensation from the State Government.
The cheques were presented to the beneficiaries by the Gombe State Governor, Inuwa Yahaya, who warned residents against unnecessary encroachment into available lands.
Recall that, Gombe State Government, in collaboration with the State Project Office of Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL), a world Bank assisted project, had in November 2023, awarded contract of over N12 billion to control a 21- kilometer gully erosion meandering through the Federal College of Education (Tech) Gombe, Railway, London Mai Dorawa, Malam Inna, Wuro Ledde, Wuro Kesa and Arawa quarters.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Inuwa Yahaya said that: “Our administration recognizes the impact this project has on the lives and livelihood of our people, and it is our duty to ensure that those affected are adequately compensated in order to enable them relocate with ease.”
He stressed that, “In this regard, a total of N389, 740, 014 is earmarked for the payment of compensation to Project Affected Persons and the general Implementation of the Resettlement Action Plan”.
He further said that his administration has taken note of the change in market values for land and other assets, hence, adopted a compensation that is decent enough to ensure easy relocation of the affected persons, expressing the hope that the beneficiaries will make good use of this opportunity.
According to him, “Our administration has so far paid the sum of N892,740,114 as a government counterpart contribution in order to enable the implementation of the FCE(T) Gully Erosion Project.”
The Governor added that “Previously, we had ensured the successful execution of of the GSU-Mallam Inna gully erosion project under NEWMAP, and we are committed to addressing other gully erosion sites through partnerships with ACReSAL and other stakeholders”.
Inuwa Yahaya explained that the compensation is intended to mitigate the inconveniences associated with relocation and to assist those affected by the project to rebuild their lives in their new environments.
