The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has said that the Federal Government would today (Wednesday) pay N2.75 billion compensation to property owners affected by the demolition necessitated by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway spanning from Channel 0 to Channel 3.
During a stakeholders meeting in Lagos on Wednesday, the minister said: “To show sympathy for people who voted for Mr President, we would do everything possible to pay the human face compensation.
“Today, we are paying over N2bn in compensation just from Channel 0 to Channel 3″.
Umahi explained that the compensation is a flag-off for 10 people, directing that the rest of those to be compensated should go to the Secretariat of the Compensation Committee for payment.
He added: “All tenants within the Landmark premises, today, have all been shortlisted and they will get the alerts by 2 pm.
“Most of them are here and that closes the politics of Landmark”.
He directed the remaining uncompensated property owners to the compensation committee
“All the people should meet with the committee.
“The committee will be sitting from 2:00 pm so that you will sign your documents in the form of indemnity and you will get your alert tomorrow before 2 pm”.
The first phase of the compensation flag-off included 10 property owners – Olaotan Olamuyiwa of Checkmate; Kemi Osinibi of Landmark Kids Club by Maxtivity; Mide Adegbite, Peter Oladipupo of FX Lounge; Bukola Oloko, Abiodun Oguntunde of Xchange Lagos; Dapo Oniru of Moist Beach; Mustapha Olatunji of G12 Beach; Dr Bashir Oshodi, and Bestrock.
The Federal Controller of Works for Lagos State, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha noted that the property owners were the first 10 to be compensated, adding that subsequently, other compensations would ensue.
One of the compensated property owners said that they had signed a document that required them not to speak on the issue.
In March, the Federal Government started constructing the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to extend through nine states with two spurs leading to the Northern states.
Umahi said that the road would be built using concrete pavement.
In the following month, the government established a committee tasked with the responsibilities of reviewing, assessing and compensating landowners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Expressway.
Umahi said that the committee, comprising members drawn from the ministry, Lagos State Government, affected communities, and other stakeholders, had primary responsibilities that included verifying the eligibility of claimants, assessing the dimensions of affected properties, and determining the appropriate compensation amounts.
