Hohos to boycott Apr 7 meet if NFHRCC excluded

Apex tribal hohos in Nagaland have resolved to boycott the state government-convened meeting on April 7 to discuss the long-delayed Nagaland Foothills Road project if the Nagaland Foothills Road Coordination Committee (NFHRCC) was not invited, terming the exclusion as disrespect to the collective voice of the Naga people.
Addressing a press conference at the NFHRCC office, Khermahal here on Monday, Lotha Hoho general secretary Er. Limhathung Odyuo said NFHRCC has been working relentlessly since 2013 to ensure the successful and corruption-free completion of the much-awaited two-lane foothills road project connecting Khelma (Peren district) to Tizit (Mon district).
Odyuo expressed strong resentment over NFHRCC’s exclusion from the recent inauguration of the Doyang Bridge, one of the major structures under the project.
“Why was the committee not invited? We could have highlighted the voice and interests of the public,” he said.
Reacting to PWD (R&B) minister G. Kaito Aye’s assurance that the road would be completed by 2026-27 and would be the first person to resign if the road was not completed, Odyuo remarked, “We do not want the minister to resign; we want the firms to do their work properly.”
He stressed that quality execution and timely progress should take precedence over mere assurances. He also questioned the rationale behind discussions on upgrading to a four-lane road when the sanctioned two-lane project remained incomplete, reiterating that finishing the original two-lane alignment must remain the immediate priority.
Odyuo disclosed that NFHRCC has written more than 10 to 15 times to chief minister Dr. Neiphiu Rio seeking a formal meeting, but has received no positive response so far.
He affirmed that if the NFHRCC was not invited to the April 7 meeting at the chief minister’s conference hall to deliberate on the Foothills Road and Right of Way (ROW) compensation issues, the 14 apex tribal hohos would collectively boycott the meeting.
Ao Senso Telongjen Dimapur (ASTD) president Ningsangwaba Pongen informed that the 14 Dimapur-based tribal hohos had submitted an ultimatum to the chief minister on February 21, 2026, which expires on March 31-.
He expressed hope that the April 7 meeting would produce positive outcomes but warned that failure to address their concerns would compel them to take further democratic steps.
Pongen said the Foothills Road should not be confused with the Trans-Nagaland Highway, adding that the focus must remain on completing the sanctioned two-lane road under the state initiative.
Western Rengma Hoho president Nijilo Kemp also voiced concern over the repeated exclusion of the NFHRCC. He said the NFHRCC was not a private entity but a mandated body representing the apex tribal hohos. He reiterated that in future the NFHRCC must be invited to all meetings concerning the project.
Responding to a query on the Baghty division stretch where R&B department had issued show-cause notices to firms for poor workmanship, Odyuo alleged serious lapses. “We have photo evidence showing that the culverts were built with inferior materials… many started cracking within two or three days,” he said. He added that out of 151 culverts, only around 50 to 60 had been completed and progress remained slow.
On land compensation, Odyuo clarified that landowners had voluntarily provided a 40-foot stretch free of cost in 2013 through their respective tribal hohos. However, he said compensation for any additional land beyond that was fully justified.
He informed that over Rs.148 crore has been sanctioned under SASCI for Phase-I and distributed among multiple firms while administrative approval of over Rs.400 crore has been granted for Phase-II
He urged the government to issue work orders at the earliest to prevent the alignment from being overtaken by jungle growth.
The apex tribal hohos reiterated that the active participation of the NFHRCC was essential in all discussions and decision-making processes concerning the Foothills Road project.