ABIA AIRPORT PROJECT: LANDOWNERS ALLEGE FRAUD IN COMPENSATION PROCESS, DEMAND INVESTIGATION. (PHOTO).

 Abia Airport Project: Landowners Allege Fraud in Compensation Process, Demand Investigation

Landowners from Umuezenta, Umuelenwa, and Okpuala villages in Umuomainta Mbawsi, Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of Abia State, have accused government officials of fraudulent practices in the compensation process for the Abia Airport Project. The communities raised concerns over the inclusion of unfamiliar and non-indigenous names, including Yoruba names, in the list of supposed beneficiaries, sparking allegations of corruption and identity fraud.

Following a joint community meeting, the landowners expressed dismay after visiting Umuahia to verify the compensation register, only to find names of individuals with no ties to their villages or ancestral claims to the affected lands. “It is shocking that names we have never heard of, many of them Yoruba, appeared on the list meant for our people. This is a clear case of fraud,” a community leader stated, demanding an urgent government investigation into the irregularities.

The villagers have threatened to halt work at the project site until the contractor provides a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the land acquisition agreement signed with the host communities. They emphasized that acquiring such large tracts of land must adhere to legal and traditional protocols, which they claim have been overlooked.

Further grievances include allegations that the government’s assessment understated the size of the acquired land compared to the actual area taken, shortchanging the affected communities. “The state government must come clean on this issue,” a resident declared. “We support development, but fairness and transparency must guide this landmark project. Our people deserve justice.”

As tensions rise, the communities have called on Governor Alex Otti’s administration to probe the alleged fraudulent insertion of names and ensure that genuine landowners receive fair compensation. They warned that failure to address these concerns could lead to unrest, potentially stalling the airport project’s progress. The state government has yet to issue an official response to the allegations.