*Pledges to pay compensation to deserving persons
CHIGOZIE AMADI
The federal government at the weekend commenced the controversial demolition of properties on the Right of Way (RoW) of the over N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar coastal highway. The government urged owners of such facilities along the axis to see the demolition as a sacrifice for Nigeria.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, who flagged off the exercise on Section 1 of the road, assured that the construction of the highway would mark a major milestone in President Bola Tinubu’s economic diversification roadmap.
Handled by Hitech Construction Company Limited, the project had drawn criticisms from several Nigerians, including former Vice President Abubakar Atiku and the presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP) in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi.
Both leaders raised concerns over the alleged opacity surrounding the award of the contract for the 700-kilometre highway. They emphasised the need to prioritise the funding of more critical roads across the country.
But Umahi, according to a statement yesterday by his spokesman, Uchenna Orji, said the federal government was passionate about the plight of the people affected by the demolition exercise. He said the government would, in the exercise of the right of way, put a “human face” to the demolition of properties required to give way for the construction of the highway.
The minister noted that the federal government was considering the most economically viable way to pass the coastal road without much damage. He reassured that there would be no delay in the payment of compensation to the property owners entitled to compensation, but solicited their cooperation to the timeline of the demolition exercise.
Umahi said, “We are doing some minor adjustments, and our commitment is to stay within the coastline. When the initial demolition order was passed to all the affected investors, so to speak, I graciously increased the period to another seven days and yet another four days.
“And here we are because the project stopped because of this part of the demolition. This demolition is going to have a pure human face…
“I wish to flag off this demolition exercise to get a right of way within the coastal corridor, which is the legitimate right of the federal government.”
The minister called on all those to be affected by the demolition exercise to take it as a sacrifice for the country.
He highlighted the socio- economic benefits of the project, including the funds it would save for businessmen and women and the stability it would bring to the economy.
“Those who are playing politics with this can go ahead. My job is simple, just to pass the coastal road and those who are into politics can continue,” he said.
Speaking at the event, one of the affected property owners, Mr. Bolaji Ariyo of Mami Chula beach, said the demolition would affect his business.
However, the statement quoted Ariyo as saying that he had no option than to make the sacrifice for the greater good of millions of Nigerians whose livelihoods would be impacted by the construction of the highway that would connect the country’s southern and northern parts. He urged all those to be affected by the infrastructure to see it as a sacrifice for the good of all Nigerians.
Ariyo said, “Some of us are affected, no doubt about it. But some of us are not up to 0.1 per cent of the millions of people that will enjoy the coastal road. That’s why someone like me and some others also have taken it to heart to also support Mr. President and the minister to ensure that this road comes to life.”
Ariyo noted that the coastal highway had the potential to create greater vistas of opportunities for businesses and other human development initiatives that would benefit the greater number of Nigerians.
He added, “As humans, those affected will feel the pain, but the future of the country must be put first. And some of us are paying the price in good faith. So we are human, we feel the pain.
“But at the same time, if you look at the bigger picture, you realise that it’s to the benefit of everyone. It’s more than the benefit of one person. Yes, we are sitting on a lot of money, a lot of money being recouped here.
“But it is not worth the enjoyment or the free access of every other Nigerian that will ply the road. So Mr. Minister has already lectured me so well and has consoled me so many times.”
According to the statement, the demolition exercise is continuing as the committee of the ministry on the compensation of Section 1 property owners, headed by the Federal Controller of Works, Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, is working to ensure payment of compensation to the affected property owners begins in days.
