Niger State governor Mohammed Umaru Bago has approved the establishment of a Claim Verification and Payment of compensation Committee for the construction of the 82km Islamic Development Bank assisted Minna-Bida Road.
A statement issued by secretary to the state government (SSG), Alhaji Abubakar Usman, said the reconstruction of the Minna-Bida Road is being co-financed by the Islamic Development Bank, Abu Dhabi Fund for Development and the state government.
Usman revealed that members of the committee were drawn from the state government, security agencies, and other relevant stakeholders.
He said the committee has been granted a six weeks’ timeline, to complete its assignment with utmost diligence.
He said the committee’s primary mandate is to identify each claimant and gather crucial information, including the land coordinates of the affected property and each claimant’s Bank Verification Number (BVN).
“This additional data will enhance process integrity and transparency, thereby preventing potential issues of claims and counterclaims by the claimants, which could lead to any setback for the start-up or progress of the project,” he added.
The SSG stated that the state government has already set aside funds to compensate all affected persons saying that “ Payments will be made simultaneously with the verification process, paving the way for the commencement of civil works and groundbreaking in November 2023, in accordance with the current project work plan.”
He added that the committee would facilitate direct real- time online payments to the claimants, eliminating the need for contact with government officials.
Usman emphasised on the importance of claimants’ presence at their respective property locations during the verification exercise while imploring the affected parties to cooperate fully with the committee to ensure smooth and efficient process.
Usman charged members of the committee to uphold fairness and equity throughout the exercise, emphasizing the immediate payment of verified claimants after the verification process.
The SSG stressed that the timelines for verifying each location would be communicated through the village heads and the claimants’ attorneys.
