The traditional ruler, leaders and stakeholders of Ndiebor Ishieke Autonomous Community in Ebonyi Local Government Area of Ebonyi State have demanded compensation for crops and farmlands allegedly destroyed during borrow-pit excavation for the ongoing Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway project, warning that the damage could worsen food insecurity and economic hardship among residents.
Key Highlights
- Ndiebor Ishieke community demands compensation for crops and farmlands allegedly destroyed during superhighway construction.
- Residents warn that damage to yam, cassava, rice and other food crops threatens their livelihoods.
- Community leaders demand consultations with landowners before further excavation.
- Stakeholders call for the reclamation of borrow pits to prevent accidents and restore affected land.
- Residents question the extraction of laterite from their community for road construction in other areas.
- Contractors’ representatives promise to communicate the complaints to their management.
- No specific compensation package or timeline for resolving the dispute was announced at the meeting.
Ebonyi Community Raises Alarm Over Superhighway Farmland Destruction
The community stakeholders made their demands on Thursday during a meeting with representatives of the construction company and project liaison officers at Alibaruhu Ishieke.
They expressed concern that the alleged destruction of yam, cassava, rice, millet, beniseed and other crops was threatening the livelihoods of residents who depend largely on farming to feed their families and sustain their households.
The stakeholders called on the Federal Government and the contractors handling the project to address the concerns, stop further encroachment on cultivated land without prior consultation, and ensure that excavated borrow pits are properly reclaimed.
Traditional Ruler Calls for Compensation, Respect for Land Rights
Speaking on behalf of the community, the traditional ruler of Ndiebor Ishieke Autonomous Community, His Royal Highness Eze Hyacinth Awoke Nwiboko, said residents supported the federal road project but were concerned about the manner in which borrow pits were being opened on farmland.
The monarch said the community wanted adequate consultation and appropriate compensation for affected landowners before further excavation activities.
He also urged the contractors to respect local land ownership arrangements and cultural traditions, particularly regarding the use of the community’s forest reserve as a source of laterite for road construction in other areas.
Nwiboko called on the government and construction company to resolve the concerns without undermining the anticipated economic benefits of the superhighway.
‘Our Future May Not Be Secure If Our Livelihoods Are Destroyed’
Also speaking, High Chief Boniface Okpete, a community stakeholder, said residents were not opposed to the construction of the superhighway but were worried about the alleged destruction of their sources of livelihood.
He explained that farming, particularly the cultivation of yam and cassava, remained central to the community’s food supply and household income.
“We are not crying because they are taking laterite. We are crying because our future may not be secure if our sources of livelihood are destroyed,” he said.
Okpete urged the contractors to notify and negotiate with landowners before excavating laterite from farms that were not originally designated for the project.
He also called for compensation for affected crops and the reclamation of borrow pits after excavation to restore the land to productive use and reduce the risk of accidents.
Community Questions Use of Forest Reserve for Laterite
Okpete further questioned the decision to obtain laterite from the community’s forest reserve for construction activities in neighbouring areas.
He argued that the arrangement required clarification and consultation with the landowners, particularly as cultivated farmland was reportedly being affected by excavation activities.
“We have a reserved forest belonging to our community, where suitable laterite can be sourced. We want the authorities to explain why our farmlands are being affected while the community’s reserve is available for consideration,” he said.
Despite the concerns, Okpete acknowledged the efforts of President Bola Tinubu, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, and Senator Onyekachi Nwebonyi in facilitating development projects in the area.
He maintained, however, that infrastructure development should not come at the expense of residents’ means of survival.
Community Secretary-General Lists Demands
The Secretary-General of Ndiebor Ishieke Autonomous Community, Dr Patrick Nwajioha, said the community welcomed the road project but was concerned about the environmental and economic consequences of the borrow-pit excavation.
According to him, farmers had complained that their yam, cassava, rice and other crops were being removed to obtain laterite for construction, despite assurances that affected farmland would be identified and consultations conducted before excavation.
Nwajioha outlined the community’s principal demands as:
- Compensation for crops allegedly destroyed during excavation.
- An end to excavation on cultivated farmland without prior consultation with affected landowners.
- Reclamation of borrow pits after the extraction of laterite.
- Engagement with the traditional ruler, community leaders and individual landowners to prevent further damage.
- Clarification on the use of laterite sourced from the community for construction in other areas, including Ezza land.
He described the reported use of laterite from the community for projects elsewhere as unfair to residents whose farmland was being affected.
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Contractors Promise to Relay Complaints to Management
Responding to the concerns, the general supervisor of the construction company, Infiouest, Majed Abu Jaoude, said he would communicate the community’s grievances to the company’s management for consideration.
Jaoude explained that he attended the meeting as a staff member and did not have the authority to make final commitments on the demands raised by the stakeholders.
He acknowledged the concerns and promised to relay the requests to the appropriate authorities within the company.
Similarly, Nkama Williams Chima, liaison officer and chief security officer of Reinforced Global Resources Limited, said the representatives would convey the community’s concerns to their principals for a response.
Chima appealed to the stakeholders to remain calm while the issues were being addressed, assuring them that the company did not deliberately intend to undermine the community’s interests.
He also said the reclamation of borrow pits would be carried out when weather conditions were favourable.
Stakeholders Demand Written Resolutions
Earlier, Simon Odoh, a liaison officer for the road project, said the meeting was convened to engage the contractor and assess environmental concerns arising from the federal road project in the community.
During the meeting, community representatives, including Chief Stephen Nwele, called for the documentation of agreed resolutions to ensure that commitments on consultation, compensation and reclamation could be followed up.
They urged the Federal Ministry of Works and the contractor to intervene promptly, warning that continued damage to farmland without satisfactory arrangements could deepen food insecurity and economic hardship.
Ebonyi Community Insists on Safeguards as Superhighway Construction Continues
Ndiebor Ishieke community reiterated its support for the Calabar–Ebonyi–Benue–Nasarawa–Abuja Superhighway but insisted that construction must respect local land rights and protect agricultural livelihoods.
The community also stressed the need to reclaim excavated borrow pits to reduce environmental risks and prevent possible accidents.
However, the contractors’ representatives did not announce a specific compensation package or timeline for resolving the demands at the meeting.
The dispute therefore remains centred on compensation for affected crops, prior consultation with landowners and the restoration of land disturbed by excavation.
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