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From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The Managing Director/CEO, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Ahmed Sule AbdualAziz, has performed the ground breaking ceremony of nine-unit block of flats for the resettlement of vulnerable families who were affected by the reconstruction and expansion of the Alaoji- Onitsha 330kv transmission line Phase One.
Represented by the Project Director of AfDB PIU/TCN, Engr Omobola Odusoga, at the event held yesterday, in Ihitte Mbieri community in Mbaitoli council area of Imo state, Engr AbdulAziz said it is part of the implementation of resettlement action plan (RAP) acquisition and clearing of right of way for the proposed reconstruction of the Alaoji-Onitsha 330kv SC to 330kv DC Quad Core Transmission line funded by Africa Development Bank (AfDB).
He also said it is in tandem with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to the dignity of ordinary Nigerians.
“The sponsors of this project, the AfDB, do not want people to be removed from where they are living just like that, even though the right of way has been acquired and the people earlier compensated several years ago. So, TCN has taken it upon itself to build a new nine unit of flats for this vulnerable family. It is a very large family living directly under the transmission lines in Umudagu Mbieri community. We have to acquire two plots and half to erect new houses for them. This new place is much better than the place they were which is smaller. The TCN is also going to turn their former ancestry home more of a cultural centre since we cannot relocate their dead ones, including two traditional rulers who were buried in the compound”.
Also, Dr Bassey Uzodimma, consultant to AfDB/TCN project, said that those who are being given cheques today are those whose crops were affected. We had paid for structures last April. Besides that, we have a livelihood improvement programme.
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“TCN has also identified those who are going to be displaced economically. We have commenced a nine-unit flat for a family that will be physically displaced in Umudagu Mbieri community in Mbaitoli. They are living directly under the transmission lines. They were relocated from their ancestral land. We bought two and a half plots for that purpose. They are vulnerable people and that was why we selected them. Their previous compound will be turned into more of a cultural heritage because two late monarchs were buried within the compound, and they had about 11 graves there. It is more like a cemetery. So, it is not something that you just remove. TCN has agreed to make the place more of a cultural heritage and we thanked them for the cooperation because it is easy to be relocated from your ancestral land. We paid for the land and the receipt is in the names of the beneficiaries.
“Also, those who will be economically displaced are also being giving assistance, especially the artisans, and training is ongoing right now in Owerri, after which they will be given starter packs” he said.
The TCN chief executive, who had earlier flagged off the livelihood restoration programme in Owerri, said 32 communities in Imo State will receive practical training and start-up support in critical trade such as fashion designing and tailoring, shoe cobbling and shoe making, baking and food processing, ICT and digital skills, mechanic and auto electrical work, and artisanal skills that form the backbone of the local economy.
He said, “64 of our sons and daughters from 32 communities in Imo State will receive practical training and start-up support in critical trade, in fashion designing and tailoring, shoe cobbling and shoe making, baking and food processing, ICT and digital skills, mechanic and auto electrical, and artisanal skills that forms the backbone of our local economy. This is not charity but investment in giving youths skills that are in demand.
The training for skills acquisition and small business empowerment programme, in addition 210 small business owners, will receive empowerment grants. It is targeted at artisans and entrepreneurs. All these artisans were identified on the route from Alaoji -Onitsha DC Quad core transmission line. It is part of the initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the power sector”.
