IRWA Nigeria Chapter 84 Elects Akpan As President, Others

The International Right of Way Association (IRWA) Chapter 84 Nigeria has elected new leadership, with Idongesit Akpan emerging as president.

Other elected officials include Ikechukwu Nwachukwu as Vice President, Aminu Shuaibu as Secretary, Philip Nwachukwu as Treasurer, and Kola Olayode as International Director.

The election took place during IRWA Chapter 84’s annual seminar held at Bon Hotel Octagon, Jahi District, Abuja, themed: “Better Right of Way Management and Maintenance,” which focused on best practices in right-of-way management and infrastructure maintenance.

In a keynote address, the Director of Railway Service at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, James Zirra, said mismanagement of acquired right of way remains one of the major challenges affecting infrastructure development in Nigeria.

Zirra stressed that effective maintenance of right of way requires a proactive rather than reactive approach.

“The future of Nigeria’s infrastructure depends not only on what we build, but on how effectively we protect, manage and maintain what we build,” he said.

Also speaking, an official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Zimuzo Ozuah, highlighted the value of right of way as a critical national asset, noting that deliberate efforts must be made to harness it effectively.

He observed that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 has limited effectiveness on right-of-way acquisition due to overlaps with the Land Use Act and the Oil Pipelines Act, which govern surface access, compensation, and pipeline rights.

“The comparative lesson for Nigeria is therefore not simply that stricter rules are needed, but that right-of-way governance must become more integrated, forward-looking, and institutionally coordinated if it is to deliver long-term value and public safety,” Ozuah said.

Speaking virtually from Canada, the International President of IRWA, Koby Godwin, shared global best practices, stressing the importance of data management and effective communication between project proponents.

In his acceptance speech, Akpan said IRWA’s mission remains to advance professionalism, ethics, and education in the right-of-way industry.

“In the year ahead, we will focus on three priorities — strengthening our credentialing programs, ensuring our voice is represented in infrastructure policy, and supporting our chapter members to harness the benefits of being members at the international level,” he said.

He added that IRWA operates at the intersection of progress and people, noting that while infrastructure corridors are delivered to power communities, host communities must also be engaged and treated as true partners in the process.