Governor Ayade’s super highway project a hoax – ERA’s Philip Jakpor

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

According to him, the necessary steps to make it realisable were not followed.

“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.

Speaking on phone on Wednesday, Jakpor said “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.”

Jakpor who supported Federal Government’s action to stop the project said “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.”

He advised the state government to go back and do the needful.

“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.

Culled from Today Nigeria