FG Commences Payment Of N2.75 Billion In Compensation For Property Owners On Lagos-Calabar Coastal Route Project

David Umahi 

THE Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that the Federal Government will pay N2.75 billion in compensation to property owners affected by the destruction required for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which spans channels 0 through 3.

This information was given during a stakeholders meeting in Lagos State on the same Wednesday.

Additional compensation is expected to be provided in the coming days.

Remember that in April, Umahi stated that impacted property owners on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project would be reimbursed in May.

According to the minister, even though the Federal Government owns the right of way, the property owners would be reimbursed.

David Umahi made the remarks while speaking to property owners following a project inspection in Lagos State.

He said: “The Federal Ministry of Works will pay compensation, the President has directed me to pay compensation. We are not paying compensation on the shanties.

“We will engage one-on-one to review and document and there will be a written agreement; and then if we clear you within 72 hours, you will get your cheque.”

Reiterating that the Coastal design will not affect Landmark Beach, he said: “If all the problems I have along the Coast are that of Landmark, I would have gone to sleep because as far as I am concerned, there is no problem along the Landmark issue. But to say that over 12,000 jobs will be lost, no single job will be lost.”