Lagos, Nigeria – May 24, 2024 – In a major infrastructure project, the Nigerian government has announced that up to 750 houses will need to be demolished to make way for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
During a meeting with stakeholders on Thursday, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, revealed the scale of the planned demolitions. “If we go by the new alignment, 490 houses would be demolished, also following the gazetted alignment, 750 houses would need to be demolished,” he stated.
While the government maintains it is adhering to the original gazetted plans, some property owners affected by the highway’s path have expressed dissatisfaction with the compensation being offered.
“The compensation is grossly inadequate compared to the investment we put into this property,” said Cajetan Onu, President of the Total Energies Staff Cooperative Society. Another resident, Olanrewaju Ojo, said the 1.3 million naira he received would only cover about a week’s worth of revenue for his business.
Despite the concerns, Minister Umahi stated that President Bola Tinubu has been invited to officially flag off construction of the 700-kilometer coastal highway project on May 26th. The government touts the project as a boost for tourism and regional trade across West Africa.
As demolitions loom, affected homeowners are pleading for the government to revisit the compensation terms to better reflect the true value of the properties being seized. The highway’s development remains a source of controversy in the communities along its planned route.
