The Minister of Works, David Umahi
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has faulted Landmark Group shoreline’s title, stating that the shoreline never belonged to the property company.
He faulted Landmark Group shoreline’s title at a stakeholder meeting on compensation payments to property owners affected by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project in Lagos on Wednesday.
He said, “A lot of people have been sending in messages as it concerns them, it is like in a football match with each team praying for a win. Since we came on Thursday, we have been going through the routes, every day from morning till 8:00 pm/9:00 pm, and we have been making hard decisions. In some cases, we have followed the gazetted routes, in other cases we have realigned to the coastal line majorly. The coastal line from the shore 250-metre by the Supreme Court Judgment belongs to the Federal Government.
“I am talking in particular to Landmark, come think of it, there is none of his infrastructures that is affected, I agree that there are some people in sublet relationships, but the shoreline was never given to Landmark by the Oniru’s family, and so these people he sublets to, rented some makeshifts within the shoreline, and if you go to the shoreline, you will see a demarcation of what was given to him, and you would see it in the different colour of the sand, and you will see it because of the sand filling, the point that the sand is on, and so we are dealing with these people that he submitted this shoreline to illegally.”
He added, “I have asked Landmark to bring his documents, and I challenge him and his co-politicians to bring the documents, let him flash the documents before the press. I just believe Landmark is playing politics with politicians because there is nothing to claim.”
Meanwhile, the payment of N2.75bn in compensation to property owners affected by the demolition necessary for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway spanning from channel 0 to channel 3, also began 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 noted that the compensation being done was 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 payment alerts by 2:00 pm. Most of them are here and that closes the politics of Landmark.”
The minister 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 2:00 pm.”
The first phase of the compensation flag-off included 10 property owners, which were: 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, Olukorede Kesha, noted that the aforementioned property owners were the first 10 to be compensated, adding that subsequently, other compensations would ensue.
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 revealed 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, 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.
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