The Benue House of Assembly Committee on Water Resources and Environment has appealed to residents of New Garage, Makurdi, to relocate to Agbough to enable quick completion of the?Beach Park project.
The Chairman of the committee, Mr Godwin Akaan, made the plea on Friday during the committee's oversight assignment on ecological projects in Makurdi Local Government Area. ?
Akaan said that the relocation would enable government to complete the Lobi Stream concrete drainage and River Benue Beach Park, aimed at attracting tourists to the state.
He said that the beach, when completed, would be the first of its kind in Nigeria and would also generate revenue for the state government. ?
Akaan said that N22 million compensation had been paid persons to be displaced by the project in addition to a new space provided them at?Agbough in Makurdi.
He appealed that both the ministries of Water Resources and Lands and Survey should jointly render the residents of New Garage all the necessary assistance to enable them to relocate on time.? ?
However, Mr Ali Bello, a resident of New Garage, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the compensation was not enough for them to build new houses on the new space made available to them. ?
NAN reports the beach project had been delayed for two years because of the residents’ resistance to relocate. (NAN)?