Ministry, Association Move Against ‘Right-of-Way’ Challenges In Project Execution

The International Right of Way Association (IRWA) has expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Transportation (FMoT) to tackle the challenges of ‘right-of-way’ in infrastructure development.

IRWA president, Kola Olayode, stated this during a courtesy visit by the association’s executives to the ministry’s permanent secretary, Olufunso Adebiyi.

Olayode emphasised that IRWA, as a global, non-profit professional development association of right-of-way professionals, with over 70 chapters worldwide, was ready to deepen collaboration with the ministry through its core mandate of professional development and industry standardisation.

He said that by deepening collaboration, “IRWA shall ensure that the ministry’s projects move from the drawing board to commissioning without avoidable right-of-way bottlenecks”

Olayode noted that “the complexity of today’s infrastructure demands specialists, not generalists.”

He urged all estate surveyors and valuers, lawyers, land surveyors, engineers, environmentalists and project managers to become active members of IRWA to benefit from its continuous educational certifications, professional networking, enriched conferences and knowledge exchange on right-of-way best practices.

In his response, Adebiyi stated that the importance of right-of-way professionals in infrastructure development can’t be overemphasised.

He urged IRWA to continue its advocacy with all ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) through sensitisation and awareness, noting that this would restore sanity in right-of-way acquisition and compensation.

“Again, the government and the masses will be aware of the implications of encroachment on already acquired right-of-way and poor management of RoW,” the permanent secretary said.

Adebiyi assured IRWA of his commitment and the ministry’s readiness to partner with it to deliver projects effectively and efficiently.

He also promised to ensure that ministry staff in the right-of-way profession will participate in IRWA conferences/seminars moving forward, especially the forthcoming Chapter 84 Seminar scheduled to be held on June 4, 2026 in Abuja.