THE LAGOS STATE WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT OFFICE (LSWMO), YESTERDAY, SEALED OFF SOME BUILDINGS/PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STATE OVER DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTAL INFRACTIONS.(PHOTO). #PRESS RELEASE
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has clarified that no property belonging to Landmark Africa was demolished during the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. Speaking at the inauguration of Phase 1 of the highway in Lekki, Lagos, on Saturday, Umahi addressed claims by Landmark, operators of Landmark Beach, who sought compensation for alleged demolitions worth billions of naira.
Umahi informed President Bola Tinubu, who officiated the commissioning, that only Landmark’s encroachments on the shoreline were affected, not its core infrastructure. “Mr. President, I want to state that we did no harm to Landmark Property. In fact, as you will see, this dual carriageway was divided into two by your order to save as much infrastructure as possible, even though they violated the gazetted route,” Umahi said. “The Landmark infrastructure is intact; what was removed was their encroachment on our front shoreline. The Supreme Court ruled that 250 meters from the shoreline belong to the Federal Government.”
The minister further revealed that President Tinubu directed governors of states along major federal project routes, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, to provide a minimum of 500 meters from the edge of the carriageway for tolling arrangements. While the law does not mandate compensation for shanties along such routes, Umahi noted that Tinubu instructed payments to affected parties. He disclosed that N18 billion has been disbursed as compensation for Phase 1 of the highway project.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a flagship infrastructure project, is expected to be completed within eight years, with Phase 1 marking a significant milestone.
The event was attended by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Nobel Laureate Wole Soyinka, Finance Minister Wale Edun, and governors including Hope Uzodinma (Imo), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun), and Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos). As the project progresses, the government’s handling of compensation and property rights remains a focal point of public debate.
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