Lagos-Calabar Highway: Works Minister assures compensations will be based on FG gazetted rates

The Minister of Works, Sen. (Engr) David Umahi, has assured property owners along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway route that the Federal Government will ensure that a fair and transparent compensation will be paid to those affected.

Engr. Umahi gave the assurance at a press briefing/stakeholders meeting on Lagos-Coastal Highway projects, at Eko Hotel, on Thursday in Lagos.

The minister highlighted that the compensation process would ensure payment of a standard, non-negotiable amount based on the rate gazetted by the Federal Government.

“By next week Wednesday, we will know how much compensation will be paid, and it will be paid according to the rate gazetted by the Federal Government.

“From Wednesday, I will appoint a committee that is going to review the remuneration to be sure that what is on paper is what is on ground.

“So, we are going to call people as much as possible, starting from Monday, to come and know if this is your property, this is how much you are getting and so on and so forth,” the minister said.

He disclosed that a one-on-one engagement process would take place over 30 days to verify property ownership and claims, stressing that “the moment you are verified and you sign, you are going to get your money in 30 days.”

He emphasized that those who are living in shanties will not be compensated.

In the minister’s word: “I swore to uphold the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and that constitution has not changed; so, whatever the constitution says in terms of rate is what we have to pay.”

He informed the stakeholders that the exit notice served on those affected by the coastal highway project will be extended, but at the expiration of the new extension date the demolition exercise will be carried out for the project to continue.

The minister revealed that the Landmark Beach Resort property will not be demolished in the cause of the 700-kilometer coastal road project intended to connect Lagos State with Calabar.

He stated that with the design of the coastal highway project, only 15 meters of the shoreline and a few shanties in that line will be removed.

The minister, therefore, assured Nigerians and the owner of the Beach that all other facilities in the business hub would be intact.

He pointed out that by actions of magnanimity, the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway will only require 15 meters of the shoreline from the tourism destination, which is irrevocable.

Engr. Umahi explained that the interstate highway is proposed to traverse about nine states along the coastal shoreline of the country, adding that the right of way of the coastal way belong s to the federal government.

The 750km highway, handled by Hitech Construction Africa Ltd, according to the minister will start from Lagos and terminate in Cross River, with a spur to the north central part of Nigeria.

He stated further that the coastal road is a national asset and coming at a time that Nigeria needs foreign investment, adding “we want a win-win situation, we are not going to ask who gave you papers, we want a solution, so we will pay compensation and whatever we will do.”

The stakeholders present, which include traditional royal fathers, law makers, clerics, among others appealed to the minister for timely payment of the compensations to all those affected by the coastal road.