The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development in Lagos State, Dr. Olumide Oluyinka, has said only properties with planning approvals will be compensated for demolition in the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road.
This disclosure was made by Oluyinka at the Association of the Real Estate Agents in Nigeria summit held in Lagos on Tuesday, with the theme, “Building Enduring Partnership for a Future,” according to The Punch.
He said, “We are clearing the coastal road, and some houses would be affected, if you do not have planning permit approval, you cannot be compensated.”
The Commissioner in his address said it was difficult to determine the number of properties that would be destroyed.
He noted, “All the properties to be demolished are all the properties on the roadway because they have been duly informed.
“The owner of properties with title would be compensated, but owners of properties without any approval, it is a pity, they will not be compensated.”
Oluyinka noted that the owners of those properties had been notified, and a subsequent stage would be to compensate them.
He explained, “We have informed them, that the next stage, for those that are due for compensation, is to write to them officially to let them know and the value of what they would be compensated with.”
Recall that recently, officials from the Lagos State Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture led by Commissioner Toke Benson have been meeting with Iru residents to understand their views on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project by the Federal Government; especially those who will be affected.
Landmark Beach Resort Management had also said the destruction of its properties worth over $200 million to give way for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar highway would threaten 80 businesses.