Cross River Highway project poorly executed – Environmentalist

The Head of Media and Campaigns, Environmental Rights Action, Philip Jakpor has alleged that the Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade’s signatory project is a deception.

Jakpor on Wednesday explained that the project lacks the people’s involvement as well as the required procedures. He also disclosed that that complaints about the actualization of the project.

He said, “We have complained earlier that we don’t believe that Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) was carried out.

“If it was done, the community would have known; the EIA involves consulting with the people who are likely to suffer deprivation, losses of livelihood, because of the project implementation; that was not done, the project was going to pass through some virgin forests where we have some rare animals, and we cannot allow them go”, he said.

Japkpor, in an interview with Daily Post,  Lamented that the government did not fulfil the people’s demands,

“What we have agreed with the state government was not done; the government that was itching for development must do things in an environmental sound manner.”

“The project must involve the people in form of consultation, but the impact of suffering on the people are likely to be great. We are very much in support of Federal Government’s action by stopping it.”

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He enjoined the state government re-evaluate the project and put the requirements in place .

“Let the State Government go back to the drawing board and address those environmental concerns that have been raised by the people. The people of Cross River State should continue to demand for what is right.

“The people should insist on what is right; the Governor should do what is right, people should not believe what is wrong; this is not issue of talk, this project is not what the people want, at this time, it is a drain on the state’s resources.

“The money for this project should go into other useful areas and should not be put on project that has no meaningful purpose or impact on the people. We are not against government doing project, but we are against project that will not promote people’s environment.

“We are not against development in any form but when it is destructive is what we are against. The fact that the project has been put on hold, it is obvious that something is not right”, he stated.