FG, Edo acquire100 hectares of land for Vehicle Transit Park near Auchi

The Federal Government and Edo Government have acquired 100 hectares of land for the building of a Vehicle Transit Park in Aviele near Auchi in Etsako West Local Council of Edo.
Dr Charles Akhigbe, the Chairman, Edo Government Implementation Committee in charge of the project, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday in Aviele while inspecting the land.
Akhigbe said that the project, tagged “Edo Vehicle Transit Park”, would generate about 5000 direct jobs when completed.
He said that the project was to decongest the Benin-Abuja Highway at Aviele which had become a notorious motor park, especially for drivers of articulated vehicles.
He said: “Aside the economic benefits, the park will rid the various highway routes of menace of haulage which has impacted on our roads negatively.”
NAN reports that also on inspection of the land were the Federal Government delegation led by Hassan Bello, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Shippers Council and Oba of Aviele Clan, His Royal Highness, San Momodu.
Akhigbe said the visit was also to assess the impact of the park on the host communities and how to resolve the issues.
He said that the park would bring about organised commerce in the area, adding that the project would be of mutual benefit to both the government and people of the area.
He said the Federal Government had agreed to provide investors who would build, operate and transfer after the necessary studies including an Environmental Impact Assessment had been done.
Akhigbe assured leaders in the host communities of being carried along; assuring that the project would not be abandoned.
The Head of Federal Government delegation, Hassan Bello, said the essence of the project was to create jobs.
He said: “We are working with the Federal Road Safety Corp as well as the National Union of Road Transport workers and other relevant bodies to ensure the success of the project.”
The Oba of Aviele said that what the government acquired from the community was 50 hectares of land, but the community had to donate an additional 50 hectares of land to the project.
Momodu said the additional 50 hectares was donated should there be need to expand the project.
The monarch pledged the community’s support to the initiative, but advised the federal and state governments not to allow the project go the same way of Agbede Mini Stadium which was yet to be completed.