YENAGOA – Dr Teddy Charles, Provost, Bayelsa College of Health Technology, Otuogidi in Ogbia Local Government Area, has assured the institution’s host community that land compensation would be paid soon.
People of Otuogidi Community had on June 2 stormed the institution’s premises to protest the non-payment of compensation for their land acquired by the state government.
Consequently, the protesters blocked the gates and disrupted academic activities and paved way for their representatives who met with the management of the college behind closed doors.
The provost, who later reacted to the development in an interview with NAN in Yenagoa on Sunday, urged the community to maintain peace.
He said the management of the institution, community representatives and the state government were at the verge of reaching an amicable solution to the compensation issue.
He noted that the institution had enjoyed a cordial relationship with its host community which had shown understanding over the delay in the settlement of the outstanding land compensation.
“It is not really a protest as such, it was a visit by the community to the school and we have been making moves to resolve the compensation issue.
“We are resolving it, what happened on June 2 was a meeting to find a way out, it will soon be over.
“It is actually their entitlement, the government acquired the land in 2005 for N41 million and we have been owing them but we are resolving it.
“The governor has approved the payment but the treasury has not released funds, so, we are all meeting with the treasury officials to give a definite time when the funds will be released,” Charles said.
He expressed appreciation for the understanding shown by the community leaders and urged the land owners to exercise a little more patience. (NAN)
