Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, says not all those whose properties would be demolished along the Lagos to Calabar coastal road would be compensated
Umahi said there would be no compensation for shanty owners,adding that the number of houses for demolition has not been ascertained.
He said normally those whose properties are not approved should not be entitled to compensation,but due to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s humane nature, they would be duly compensated.
Umahi spoke during a tour of the Lagos to Calabar coastal road on Thursday in Lagos, which culminated in a press briefing and stakeholders’ engagement.
He said engagements with property owners that will be affected by the construction of the coastal road will start Wednesday, next week.
He described it as the first phase in the determination of compensation for affected property owners.
“We will engage every owner, property by property from next Wednesday,” he said.
The minister stated that he inherited 2,600 projects from the previous administration noting that the coastal road is part of them.
He said the 700km coastal road will be perfectly in order in 100 years after completion, bring foreign investment and boost local trading activities.
“The return on investment is huge. It will bring in foreign investment. It will help people travelling to Southsouth, and Southeast. Tourism, estates, factories will develop. Along the tarred corridor,there will be solar light, CCTV. The coastal is on concrete and it is impressive. I commend the President for allowing me do it,” he said.
On questions raised regarding the credibility of the project by erstwhile Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Umahi said construction costs cannot be fixed because with inflation, it has to be reviewed.
” We can’t fix cost of construction. If inflation comes up, we will have to review the project. We can only come up with estimate. It is under Engineering Procurement Construction and Finance (EPC + F) in which government has shown commitment with 15 percent equity funding. First three sections will be procured with equity funding from the Federal Government,” he added.
Umahi appealed to all stakeholders and particularly those whose properties would be affected to be calm, adding that their compensation would not be delayed.
“The Ministry of Works will pay compensation as directed by the Federal Government,even when your property is not approved because the President is a good person,” he said.
The minister, while sympathizing with people who lost their lives on the Third Mainland Bridge during the Eid celebration, said there would be an observation point under the bridge with Close Circuit Television Cameras for proper monitoring.
He added there would be no bumps to curb excessive speeding ,but the Federal Road Safety Corps would be deployed to flag vehicles and put in place other safety measures.
Umahi noted that the Landmark Beach Resort will not be affected by the construction of the coastal road.
He said there would be no loss of property and jobs at the Beach Resort
The Nation
