By Ademola Orunbon
Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development (FMH&UD), Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), as well as the World Bank, have sought partnership with the Ogun State Estate Surveyors and Valuers to deliver harmonised compensation rates for Nigerians, in a bid to develop acceptable compensation plans for crops and economic trees.
The National Coordinator, RAAMP, Engr. Bodinga Aminu, who made this known during a courtesy visit to the Bureau of Lands and Survey in Abeokuta, informed that RAAMP had the mandate to build rural access roads which would be financed by the World Bank while the state government builds one.
“Our job on this visit is to sensitise on the repository for finding the value of cash and economic tree, which are not regularly traded like houses, and to enlighten on how to generate a document which serves as a guide for compensation of acquisition in the state”, he said.
Aminu, in a statement by Ms.Temitope Adewunmi, Press Officer, Ogun State Bureau of Lands & Survey, emphasised the need for a review of the compensation document after 16 years for fair compensation to reflect the current dynamics, adding that the aim was to ensure that project-affected persons were adequately compensated to avoid litigations and contribute positively towards the development of the state.
“We came together with the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development as partners to provide support to the government, to open up rural roads and maintain existing roads and in the process; certain properties are acquired and need fair compensation, to ensure project-affected persons are adequately compensated to avoid litigation.
“The mandate is not just about delivering roads. It is also about delivering fair compensation to project-affected persons, to avoid taking away the livelihood of Nigerians”, Aminu said
Also speaking, the World Bank Senior Social Development Specialist, Mr. Michael Ilesanmi, described the roles assigned to valuers as highly sensitive tasks, stressing the significance of laying a strong foundation in land administration to support state government’s efforts in attracting investors to boost the economy.
Mr. Ilesanmi, who emphasised that the state’s emergence as a favourable destination for investments in education, manufacturing and agriculture, highlighted the need to ensure that land rights were protected and upheld, noted that, “land is the only thing that lasts. It is the people’s legacy and livelihood; their culture and family history are tied to this land. Hence, it is important to be very sensitive to the issue of land.
“Ogun State has become investors’ delight in education, manufacturing and agriculture; if we do not do it right, people will not get what they are entitled to”, he said.
Responding, the Director-General of Lands, Arc. Segun Fowora, said the initiative was apt, as it would bridge the gap between landowners and investors in the state.
“The Bureau experienced a lot of push back from land owners when investors came to acquire land. This is because they are not adequately compensated and not informed about the benefits on the economy of the state in the long run, including Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) engagements of the companies”, he said.
He expressed optimism about the outcome of the review, just as he added that the process would address issues relating to land access, administration and compensation.
