2nd Niger Bridge: Dredgers protest non-inclusion in FG’s compensation

Members of Dredgers Association of Anambra State yesterday took to the streets in the commercial city of Onitsha over alleged plot to sideline them in the payment of compensation by the federal government for the second Niger Bridge. The protest, which lasted for several hours, caused traffic gridlock at the Habour Industrial Layout and Atani road in Onitsha. Addressing reporters, chairman of the association, Mr. Gilbert Udemadu, alleged that an amorphous group had perfected plans to defraud the federal government by collecting the compensation meant for them. According to Udemadu members of the association were invited to a meeting sometime in November, 2013 by a consulting firm, Aurecon Nigeria Limited, to deliberate on the modalities to pay compensation for their property that will be affected by the construction of second Niger Bridge, only to be dropped by the federal government half way. He said there was a list being circulated which did not contain their names, adding that the adopted list was made up of those whose property were not in any way near the place which the second Niger Bridge will pass through. He said: After the first meeting with Aurecon Nigeria, there were several other meetings where we were informed that it was the federal government’s directive that any person that is affected or is likely to be affected by the construction of second Niger Bridge will be compensated.