The  outgoing president of the International Right Of Way Association, IRWA, Chapter 84 Nigeria,  Mr. Charles Ebiai, has assured that the association would continue to support strides being taken by the Federal and state governments in the area of infrastructure development in spite of complications created by poverty and ignorance.

“Challenges to infrastructure development are  complicated by Nigeria’s situation of poverty and ignorance, thus a body that seeks to provide discipline and integrity, and properly educate, enlighten and guide the practitioners in the field of acquisition of Right of Way is most welcome and desirable,” he said.

Ebiai disclosed this in Abuja  during the IRWA Second Educational Conference and Induction ceremony for its executive board, entitled, ‘Problems and Prospects of Right of Way Acquisitions in Infrastructure Project Implementation.’

He pointed out that owing to the growing population, the government was tasked with providing public services and infrastructure, which required compulsory acquisition of land, especially with respect to power, roads, mass housing and oil and gas pipeline infrastructure which had led to numerous problems that practitioners and acquiring authorities had continued to grapple with.

The incoming president, Mr. Eze M.C Odigbo, said: “The advent of IRWA Chapter 84 Nigeria could not have happened at a more opportune time, as Africa was witnessing massive investment in infrastructure development which naturally gives rise to compulsory acquisition of ‘Right of Way.’

The managing director and chief executive officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd, NDPHC, Mr. J.A Olutu,in his keynote address, noted that a substantial part of Right of Way acquisition dealings revolve around the transfer of property interests to allow for linear regional infrastructure development such as electricity transmission lines, gas pipelines, rail lines, roads, among others.