Federal Government, yesterday, said 355 buildings would be demolished in various parts of Anambra State to actualise the Alaoji – Onitsha Power Line which would gulp about N6.5 billion.

Compensation package for South East is N12 billion and would be paid to the affected individuals, families and business establishments whose houses would be demolished in the course of executing the project, according to the government.

Anambra State stakeholders, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the BGM, the Consulting firm for the Alaoji -Onitsha Power line, have met in the state on the compensation issues.

The power line is a TCN project and will cut across 15 communities in about three local government areas of Anambra State.

During the meeting held in Awka yesterday, Anambra State government’s representatives, traditional rulers and Non-Governmental Organisations were in attendance.

Addressing the stakeholders, the Project Manager and Assistant General Manager, TCN, Omobola Oluwaseun Sogo, said the compensation in the North was about N1.8 billion, while in the Southeast, FG would pay over N12 billion.

Sogo, an engineer, revealed that compensation alone in Anambra State would take half of the amount mapped out for the South East which also involves Abia and Imo states.

She told the stakeholders that the project is a lifetime one for the people. “If you allow this opportunity to slip off and be taken to another zone because of disagreement, I bet you it will be difficult to recover it again in this country.

“The Federal Government has already made available part of the funds for compensation, and once the communities involved come to terms with our discussions, we’re good to go,” Omobola Sogo said.

For Ifeanyi Okonkwo, assistant general manager incharge of Anambra State’s TCN, “the project started a long time ago and we’re here to talk about the way forward for the project to work. It’s going to impact positively on our people, if actualized because anything we’re doing without power may not succeed.

“Alaoji is in Aba, if we were transmitting 100 mega watts before, with the implementation of this project, it will get to 1000 Megawatts and the businesses will thrive well and complaints of shortage of power will become a thing of the past in this zone.

“Whatever thing we discuss today should be transmitted to our people in our communities to change our lives and conditions”, Okonkwo said.

Speaking with reporters after the engagement, Basil Uzodinma, managing director, BGM Limited, said the project will cut across 15 communities in Anambra State.

Furthermore, he said the compensation to those whose properties are involved will amount to about N6.5bn in Anambra alone, adding that about 355 buildings will be involved in the demolition exercise.

“Our people have lost some of the cottage companies who relocated to Ghana and other countries that have steady power supply.

“This is what this project is all about to correct such anomalies. TCN had sent consultants because some people encroached on our land. We’re not going to allow encroachment,” Uzodinma said. (The Sun)