The Federal Government has commenced payment of compensation to beneficiaries affected by the ongoing dualization of the Keffi/Makurdi expressway.
The Federal Government’s compensation team led by Ishaq Muhammad, a Director with the Federal Ministry of Works, said this in Lafia, the state capital.
The leader of the Federal Government’s compensation team said they were in the state to seek the advice of the Governor on modalities for a transparent exercise.
Muhammad, who is a Director/Unit Manager, road sector development team, at the Federal Ministry of Works, said the support of the Governor is key.
Governor Abdullahi Sule specifically directed that payment to the beneficiaries be made through cheques and not direct cash, stressing that this will ensure transparency in the exercise.
Sule noted that Nasarawa State prefers the team to write the cheques while the state government provides the beneficiaries.
The Governor appealed to the people to accept what the Federal Government has agreed to pay as compensation, as they will be the greatest beneficiaries of the dualization project.
Sule advised the Federal Government’s team to commence the payment of the compensation in phases, starting with the Keffi/Akwanga axis, which will also serve as a testing ground for the payment process.
The road project which started in 2017, is presently at 40 per cent completion and is expected to be completed within three years.