Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Federal Government has announced a significant increase in compensation for property owners affected by Section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, from N8 billion to approximately N18 billion.
Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, made the announcement at a stakeholder engagement in Lagos, addressing concerns surrounding the compensation process.
Umahi explained that the initial N8 billion approved by the Federal Executive Council was increased after further assessments by independent experts to ensure fair treatment for affected citizens.
“The Federal Executive Council initially approved N8 billion for this corridor, but today we are hitting N18 billion, and this is just for section one,” he stated.
The Minister revealed that half of the compensation has already been paid to affected individuals, with the remaining payments to be completed within the next 10 days.
This move aims to alleviate concerns raised by stakeholders, including lawyers and valuation experts, who argued that the compensation was inadequate.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project spans 700 kilometers across nine states, aiming to boost connectivity and economic growth along Nigeria’s coast.
Construction began in March 2024, with Hitech Construction Company Ltd. handling the project under an EPC+F model.
To ensure transparency and accountability, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Mr. Akin Alabi, emphasized the need to publish compensation details.
Umahi assured that the Federal Ministry of Works operates within legal guidelines and remains open to reviewing additional documents to facilitate swift compensation.
The project’s compensation process involves a committee established by the Federal Government to assess and compensate landowners impacted by Section 1 in Lagos.
This committee verifies claims, assesses property dimensions, and determines fair compensation using Federal Government rates.
