N15tn highway: FG mum on compensation for property owners
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has remained silent on the amount earmarked for the compensation of property owners affected by the Lagos-Calabal Coastal Highway project.
The Federal Government had earlier confirmed that it would pay compensation to all property owners along the path the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The coastal highway, which is expected to pass through nine states, is estimated to cost N15tn.
Earlier, Umahi said President Bola Tinubu had approved the payment of compensation to all affected property owners, just as he also listed the necessary requirements for the payment of the compensation.
However, speaking in Lagos on Monday shortly after an inspection of the Lagos-Calabar highway project, the minister declined to comment on the estimated cost of the compensation.
When asked about the allocated amount for compensation for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, the minister remarked that the figure was a private matter.
He said, “Why do you want to know the compensation estimate? It is a private matter between the Federal Government and those involved.”
The Federal Government had on April 18, inaugurated a compensation verification committee saddled with the responsibility of reviewing, evaluating and compensating landowners affected by the construction of the N15tn Lagos-Calabar highway project.
Umahi, who inaugurated the panel, also directed the committee to complete all the verification process and begin the remuneration of affected property owners within 10 days ending April 28.
He said verified claims would be settled within 72 hours by the contractor, Hitech Construction Limited, but remained silent on the total amount approved for the exercise.
Umahi said, “We are committed to transparency and that is why we are inaugurating this committee today. We have had our alignment on both sections of phase one of the coastal road which is 47.7 km and the second section which is about 55km.
“Hence the need to set up a review committee to look at the work done by the environmental assessment team and the works to be reviewed by this committee is very simple.
“It is just to interact with property owners that are going to be affected and then in the process, look at the compensation as enumerated to be paid and when possible, you visit the site; and at the moment we are using the federal rate to do our remuneration.”
Umahi asserted that apart from verifying those to be paid, the committee would also verify the dimensions and make calculations based on the area and volume.
He added, “I know very well that no amount given will satisfy those affected but we are bound by the law so we are using the federal rate which is higher than Lagos State compensation rate in paying compensation.
“The moment the property owners sign, after filing necessary documents and bank accounts, within 72 hours, we will authorise payment.
“The contractor is going to be paying directly to all those who are affected. This, we are committed to doing, this verification exercise starts in Lagos on Wednesday.”
Corroborating the above, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Korede Keisha, had earlier asked all those whose houses were marked for demolition to come to the ministry’s Secretariat in Lagos to sort out whatever process was required by the ministry.
While speaking on the coastal highway, Umahi said adequate information had been made available on the project.
He posited, “We have addressed enough. Meanwhile, there is no claim for Landmark, he has no claim, we spared his infrastructure.
“We do not pay for shanties, so Landmark has no claim, he is a politician and I am an engineer, and I do not know the attention he is seeking for.”
