Minister of Works, David Umahi, has announced that a total of N18bn has been allocated to compensate affected property owners on section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
Umahi also stated that everyone on the compensation list of section 1 of the coastal road must have been paid in 10 days.
He spoke during the stakeholder’s engagement involving section 1 and section 2 of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road.
While addressing the issue of compensation, Umahi said his hands were tied under the law for satisfactory compensation of all those affected.
He said, “I wouldn’t have been able to respond if you had asked me this question earlier. But let me say clearly and emphatically that I’m quite frustrated with this situation. However, my hands are tied by the law. I understand that I’ve already lost some properties to arrangements like this.
“It’s incredibly challenging to pay for this, but when facing legal obligations, one is bound to comply. We have engaged professionals to handle this process and the Federal Executive Council approved an initial compensation budget of N8bn for this section, based on the recommendation by the Bureau of Public Procurement.
“But today, we are reaching N18bn, that’s where we are now. I am going to publish all details for transparency, including the names, pictures, dimensions, and costs involved. However, there are over 10 cases related to compensation in court and we will comply with whatever decisions the court makes. We will go to the Supreme Court if necessary to strengthen our democracy and seek final judgment on this matter.
“There is a legal basis for this, though I’m not a legal expert; we consulted experts for that, and 50 per cent of the compensation has already been paid. I have directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukorede Keisha, to avoid waiting for further approvals from the Federal Executive Council, as the interests of the affected individuals must be prioritised. Those affected should be able to access their funds for relocation. Therefore, within the next 10 days, we will complete 100 per cent of the payments as documented by our enumerators.”
Meanwhile, the minister disclosed that several projects with contractors had been terminated due to delays in execution.
