December 21, 2020

Jigjiga:  the shiny new asphalts and compensation complains

City: Jigjiga

Just a year ago Jigjiga city had only one major asphalted road which crossed from Harar to the border town of Togochalie.

Avatar: Mohammed Hassen
By Mohammed Hassen

journalism and communications graduate and an expert in communications affairs in the region and mobile journalist at Addis Zeybe.

Jigjiga:  the shiny new asphalts and compensation complains

Just a year ago Jigjiga city had only one major asphalted road which crossed from Harar to the border town of Togochalie. There is an asphalted road that ranges over a short distance in the city, apart from this road and due to recent developments in Jigjiga, there is another major alternative road built and other roads are following. 

The new one kilometer asphalt road which starts from the Region's Customs Authority Headquarters to Jigjiga University is among the recent construction projects that have been undertaken in the city. It has been a center of attention for many stakeholders and the University.

However, there are concerns of fair compensation allocation for the lands that were taken and the houses that have been demolished in order to build these roads according to the set road constructions' plan.

Farhan Ali has a home right next to the newly built asphalt road which takes to the University. Half of his compound was taken for the sake of the new roads plan. “The money they gave me won’t even feed my children for 6 months, I had rooms to rent now I am left with my own living room, and the compensation was too low to invest to lead a new way of life.”

Farhan says that what was promised as compensation by the city administration and what he received after he lost half of his compound is very different. He says that he has evidence that other people with the same case have received enough compensation.

Mr. Nuradin Elmi is another resident around KaraMara Hospital which is located in the City. He said that the money he got from the municipality is too low in comparison from what he was told before. “I am happy that the City is getting modernized, but this doesn't have to be at the cost of the people that are living in it” he says.

An anonymous source also told Addis Zeybe that the proper amount of compensation is being given to some people based on established relationships. “While some get a replacement land to build homes, others remain with a small amount of compensation, which is some sort of nepotism” he says.

The City Administration Management Deputy Head, Mr. Shafi Ahmed says that such concerns have been on the surface since these road construction projects began. “However,” he says, “such complaints should come formally, we can’t take rumors as bases for investigation.”

“The Administration has organized a Committee to investigate possible mismanagement and mistakes in the compensation process,” he adds. “But we need concrete evidence to act upon,”

According to the Deputy Head, the City is now finalizing the construction of 32 km long asphalted roads inside the City.