Lagos/Calabar Coastal Highway: FG To Pay Property Owners N18bn In 10 Days

The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi says the federal government has perfected plans to pay property owners affected by the construction of the Lagos/ Calabar coastal highway N18 billion within the next 10 days.

The minister made the remark on Sunday during a stakeholders’ engagement with property owners on section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

The minister said the federal government will ensure that those affected by the project are compensated, stressing that any court judgment over the issue will also be obeyed.

He explained that the issue of compensation has been very challenging for the federal government, particulalry after some property owners dragged the government to court over the destruction of their properties.

Umahi stated that an initial N8 billion was originally earmarked for compensation but that the amonunt has now been raised to N18 billion, which the government is prepared to pay to those that have lost their properties to the project withing the next few days.

To ensure that this happened, Umahi stated “I have directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukorede Keisha, to avoid waiting for further approvals from the Federal Executive Council, as the interests of the affected individuals must be prioritised.”

He stressed that the construction of all the sections of project is going as planned, adding that he will ensure that the contractors handling the projects abide strictly with the plan.

According to the minister, “It’s incredibly challenging to pay for this, but when facing legal obligations, one is bound to comply. We have engaged professionals to handle this process and the Federal Executive Council approved an initial compensation budget of N8bn for this section, based on the recommendation by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

“But today, we are reaching N18bn, that’s where we are now. I am going to publish all details for transparency, including the names, pictures, dimensions, and costs involved. However, there are over 10 cases related to compensation in court and we will comply with whatever decisions the court makes. We will go to the Supreme Court if necessary to strengthen our democracy and seek final judgment on this matter.

“There is a legal basis for this, though I’m not a legal expert; we consulted experts for that, and 50 per cent of the compensation has already been paid. I have directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukorede Keisha, to avoid waiting for further approvals from the Federal Executive Council, as the interests of the affected individuals must be prioritised. Those affected should be able to access their funds for relocation. Therefore, within the next 10 days, we will complete 100 per cent of the payments as documented by our enumerators,” Umhai said.

Umahi came under serious criticism, on Sunday, after a video where he ordered security men to bundle out a woman, one of those affected by the construction, went viral.

The woman had protested the handling of the construction by the federal government.