Enugu Int’l Airport: Land owners plan protest over compensation

 As first official Intl flight lands today

Land owners whose property were acquired by the federal government for the expansion and upgrading of the Enugu International Airport are ready for showdown with the Federal Airports Authority over failure to pay them their due compensation since 2009.Addressing newsmen in Enugu on Friday, one of the property owners, Mr. Joseph Chioke condemned the insensitivity of the government to their plight disclosing that about 10 of their members who started the fight for compensation have already died, yet nothing has been done.Mr. Chioke who commended President Jonathan for ensuring that an airport of international standard was put in place in the South East said it is regrettable that even after the government urged the court to give the parties time to settle out of court, nothing has so far been done.
Said he; “Most of us are still very worried and our health is fast deteriorating because we have not had money to buy another land equivalent to the ones we lost because of the International airport to build the houses some years ago.

“We have therefore agreed to carry out peaceful demonstration at the airport during the ceremony so that the world will know and hear about this injustice being meted out to us.

“Though we are happy with the take off of the international wing, the ceremony provides an ideal opportunity for us to remind Mr. President that people have been suffering and many have died because government has not done what it is supposed to do. We have no option at this point than do what we ought to do.

“We feel it is time for the president himself to step into this matter because we don’t even know what is happening and if they really have any plan for us. We can no longer continue to keep mute while we die in silence. “

The land owners who have long gone to seek redress in court are billed to return to court on November 5, if no agreement or settlement is reached with FAAN.