The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said that a sum of N2.5 billion has been set aside to compensate those whose properties were damaged by the recent demolition exercise carried out to make way for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
He made this disclosure during a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos State, recently stating that N2.75 billion would be paid out on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.
In addition, he noted that additional compensation would be provided in the coming days.
The demolition commenced following Umahi’s inspection of various sections of the coastal area, including kilometres 13, 16, and 20, to determine the most viable route for the highway construction with minimal damage.
Meanwhile, Landmark Beach management while reacting to this development via its official X handle decried the demolition of their investment worth approximately $200 million.
The statement read, “What we built in six years was destroyed in six hours.” Despite the setback, they expressed determination to rebuild.
Recall that Landmark’s chief Executive Officer, Paul Onwuanibe, had appealed to the government to revert the construction of the coastal road to its original alignment before being redirected to the beachfront.
He argued that the original plan would not only preserve businesses but also save costs and manpower for the government.
“The original alignment of the coastal road was Water Corporation Road,” Onwuanibe explained. “Instead of running on the land side of Landmark, it’s going to run on the beach side of Landmark.”
