Dakkada Luxury Estate: Akwa Ibom Government pays compensation to host community
The Akwa Ibom State Government has paid compensation to property owners of Ibiaku Eshiet extraction for the parcel of land acquired for the Dakkada Luxury Estate project.
Presenting the cheque on Tuesday, 14th September 2021 to the community, through the village head – Chief William Effiong Etim – and the community-appointed surveyor, Surv. Kufre Eshiet, the Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources, Pastor Umo Eno urged them to work with the community and ministry to ensure that everyone that was enumerated is paid accordingly.
The Commissioner noted that the payment was in fulfillment of the promise made by the Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel to the community of the Dakkada Luxury Estate earlier this year and thanked the Governor for keeping to his promise to pay the compensation despite the economic challenge facing the country.
He commended the Governor for prudent management of the State’s resources and the prompt payment of salaries and meeting other pressing needs of the state.
He called on the community to continue to cooperate with the government to maintain peace in the location of the estate project which he said will be flagged off by the Vice President of Nigeria – Prof. Yemi Osinbajo – on the 24th of September, as part of the States anniversary activities.
Speaking on the quality and importance of the Dakkada Luxury Estate project, the Commissioner said, “What is about to happen in that community has not happened anywhere else within the Niger Delta. It will be a smart estate, and one of the best in the country. It will be a well-gated city within a city with a hospital, school, police Station, football field, Civic center, playground, general sewage, Central power source and will accommodate about 567 families. For me, I call it a plug and play.”
He called on the people of the state to have confidence in the present administration to deliver on its mandate, saying, “The engine of government may go slowly but it will definitely get to its destination””
In his response, the village head of the Ibiaku Ishiet community, Chief William Etim, thanked the Governor for the payment of the compensation and lauded the Commissioner for the role he played to facilitate the payment process.
Chief Etim said they were happy to witness the presentation of the cheque which he said was a relief to him and a thing of celebration for the entire community members.
Also speaking, one of the community leaders, Elder Nsikak Okon, thanked the Governor for keeping to his promise and prayed to God to bless him.
Okon pledged the resolve of the community of Dakkada Luxury Estate to obey the court order to ensure that peace reign in the area.
Recalled that the payment of the compensation was delayed because the community went to court, but the government decided to effect the payment after the community had withdrawn the case.
