The Federal Government on Thursday inuagurated the committee expected to review, evaluate and compensate land owners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal expressway.

The Minister of Works, Mr David Umahi, while inaugurating the committee in Abuja, said that the goal was to ensure transparency in all undertakings.

“The gesture is in line with the renewed hope agenda of the administration of Presidents Bola Tinubu which is transparency.

“The committee is tasked with interacting with the property owners to be affected, and to look at possible compensations to be paid. Where it is possible, the committee should visit the sites,” he said.

He said that the ministry would apply federal goverment rates for the compensations.

“I know very well that there is nobody that you ever compensate that is ever satisfied with how much is to be paid.

“However, we are bound by the law, so we are using the federal rate, which is a lot higher than the Lagos rate, in paying compensation

“We adopted the Federal Government rate since we are the ones paying,” he said.

Umahi said that apart from verifying those to be paid, the committee would also verify the dimensions where possible, and the amount.

He said that after the verification, the property owners would sign, and the contractor would be directed to pay the specified amount.

He, however, said that where there is a title problem, a presidential waiver would be needed before such people would be paid.

“So, only those that have proven titles will be paid as they are brought to us in the ministry, although we shall carry out our own checks.

“We have to make it very clear that 250 metres of the road legally belongs to the federal government.

“So, if you have a title within these 250 metres and it is not a title from the Federal Government, only the President will give a waiver if he so feels, for payment.

“So, I will work within the confines of the law,” he said

Umahi said that the ministry would try not to delay the files so that the process would be shortened.

He assured property owners that within 72 hours, the needful would be done.

Umahi said that property owners would sign and be given a form to indicate their bank accounts.

He said that the moment that was done, within 72 hours, payment would be authorised.

“The contractor is going to be paying directly to all those who are affected. We are committed to doing this, so the verification will start latest by Wednesday in Lagos,” he announced.

Umahi said that the committee members were drawn across board from the ministry, Lagos State, affected communities, among others.

The House of Representatives, says it is working on plans to ensure financial autonomy for managers of nuclear energy centres in the country.

The Chairman,  House Committee on Renewable Energy, Rep. Victor Ogene said this at an investigative hearing on alleged diversion of hazard and high-risk allowances of nuclear managers in the country.
Ogene said that the centres included the Centre for Energy Research and Training, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and the Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile- Ife.

He urged the personnel at the centres to avoid acts of sabotage that could result in adverse effect that might jeopardise the security of the nation.

He tasked them on diligent service delivery in spite of their grouses over non payment of the approved hazard and high-risk allowances.

The lawmaker said that the parliament was working toward ensuring that the complaints in the petition were permanently addressed.

“The committee found merit in the petition and has made some recommendations, part of which includes a directive to the Budget Office of the Federation, as the well as the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation to restore the allowances under review.

“Also, direct the Budget Office of the Federation to grant both centres, financial autonomy by providing them with separate budget lines for effective and efficient discharge of their mandate.

“That the National Income Salaries and Wages Commission be queried because of its negative role in the matter,” he said.

Prof. John Akinbami, the Principal Research Fellow at the Centre for Energy Research and Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said the challenges faced by the centres were enormous.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has declared former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello wanted.

This followed the inability of the former governor to appear before Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court Abuja on Thursday for his arraignment over alleged N84bn money laundering.

In a post on its official Facebook page on Thursday, the anti-graft agency urged Nigerians with useful information about Bello’s whereabouts to report to nearest police station.

The post reads, “EFCC Declares Former Kogi Governor Yahaya Bello Wanted. Former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, is wanted by the EFCC for offences relating to economic and financial crimes to the tune of N80.2 Billion.

“Anybody with information as to his whereabouts should report immediately to the Commission or the nearest Police Station.”

Ahead of the planned arraignment, operatives of the EFCC, Department of State Services, Police and other security agencies on Wednesday besieged Bello’s Abuja residence.

He was, however, sneaked out of the building by the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Usman Ododo.