By Peter Oyedele, Abuja

The International Right of Way Association (IRWA) Chapter 84 Nigeria has inaugurated a new executive committee, with industry professionals and stakeholders calling for improved management, protection and maintenance of Right of Way (ROW) assets to drive infrastructure development across the country.

The new leadership emerged during the association’s annual seminar held at Bon Hotel Octagon, Jahi District, Abuja. The event, themed “Better Right of Way Management and Maintenance,” brought together experts from the transportation, oil and gas, and real estate sectors to explore strategies for effective ROW administration.

Delivering the keynote address, the Director of Railway Services at the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Engr. James Zirra, identified the mismanagement of acquired Right of Way as a major obstacle to infrastructure development in Nigeria.

Drawing on his experience in railway transportation and ROW acquisition coordination, Zirra emphasized that effective maintenance requires proactive rather than reactive measures.

“The future of Nigeria’s infrastructure depends not only on what we build, but on how effectively we protect, manage and maintain what we build,” he said.

Also speaking at the seminar, an official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mr. Zimuzo H. Ozuah, described Right of Way as a valuable national asset that must be properly harnessed for sustainable development.

According to him, the effectiveness of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 in addressing ROW acquisition challenges remains limited by provisions of the Land Use Act and the Oil Pipelines Act, which govern surface access, compensation and pipeline rights.

He therefore advocated a review of the Land Use Act to improve efficiency in infrastructure development and ROW governance.

“Right of Way governance must become more integrated, forward-looking and institutionally coordinated if it is to deliver long-term value and public safety,” Ozuah said.

Speaking virtually from Canada, IRWA International President, Mr. Koby T. Godwin, highlighted the importance of data management and effective communication among project stakeholders, describing them as essential to achieving global best practices in ROW administration.

In his goodwill message, President of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), ESV Mallam Bature Ali Muhammad, urged Right of Way professionals to continually update their skills to meet evolving professional, economic and market demands.

He said the seminar would help redefine competencies required for effective land acquisition and infrastructure corridor management, particularly in railway and pipeline ROW operations, in line with international standards and emerging global trends.

At the end of the seminar, members elected a new executive committee led by Mr. Idongesit I. U. Akpan as President. Other officers include Mr. Ikechukwu Henry Nwachukwu as Vice President, Mr. Aminu Shuaibu as Secretary, Mr. Philip Nwachukwu as Treasurer, and Mr. Kola Olayode as International Director.

In his acceptance speech, Akpan reaffirmed the association’s commitment to advancing professionalism, ethics and education within the Right of Way industry.

He said the new administration would focus on strengthening credentialing programmes, enhancing the profession’s representation in infrastructure policy discussions, and helping members maximize the benefits of international affiliation.

“IRWA exists at the intersection of progress and people. As we deliver the corridors that power our communities, we must also ensure that host communities are engaged, respected and treated as true partners in the process,” he said.

The seminar ended with renewed calls for stronger collaboration among government agencies, industry players and professional bodies to improve Right of Way governance and support Nigeria’s infrastructure growth agenda.