The Federal Government’s construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has necessitated the demolition of properties along the Right of Way (RoW). Properties and business have thus had to go, but the government has urged owners of such property to view this as a sacrifice for the nation’s progress.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, who initiated the demolition on Section 1 of the road, assured that the highway’s construction would be a significant step in President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification roadmap. The project is being handled by Hitech Construction Company Limited.
However, the project has not been without controversy. Several prominent Nigerians, including former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi, have raised concerns. They questioned the transparency surrounding the contract award for the 700-kilometre highway and emphasized the need to prioritize funding for more critical roads across the country.
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Despite these criticisms, Umahi, through his spokesman Uchenna Orji at the weekend, stated that the government is concerned about the plight of those affected by the demolition. He promised that the government would approach the demolition with a “human face” and was considering the most economically viable way to construct the coastal road with minimal damage.
Umahi reassured property owners that there would be no delay in compensation payments to those entitled, but asked for their cooperation with the demolition timeline.
He said: “We are doing some minor adjustments, and our commitment is to stay within the coastline… This demolition is going to have a pure human face.” The Minister called on all those affected by the demolition to view it as a sacrifice for the country. He highlighted the socio-economic benefits of the project, including the savings for businessmen and women and the stability it would bring to the economy.
One of the affected property owners, Mr. Bolaji Ariyo of Mami Chula beach, acknowledged that the demolition would impact his business. However, he also recognized the greater good of the project for millions of Nigerians. He urged all those affected by the infrastructure to see it as a sacrifice for the benefit of all Nigerians.
Ariyo said, “Some of us are affected, no doubt about it. But some of us are not up to 0.1 per cent of the millions of people that will enjoy the coastal road… The coastal highway has the potential to create greater vistas of opportunities for businesses and other human development initiatives that would benefit the greater number of Nigerians.”
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He added, “As humans, those affected will feel the pain, but the future of the country must be put first. And some of us are paying the price in good faith… But it is not worth the enjoyment or the free access of every other Nigerian that will ply the road?”
The Explainer reports that the demolition is already underway, and the ministry’s committee on the compensation of Section 1 property owners, headed by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, is working to ensure payment of compensation to the affected property owners begins in the coming days.
