TheCable

The federal government has commenced the payment of compensation to some property owners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.

David Umahi, minister of works, at a stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos on Wednesday, presented dummy cheques to some property owners along the Lagos end of the road project.

Recently, the federal government commenced the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road, which is expected to run through the shoreline of beach resorts in Lagos, while traversing eight other states.

Concerns have been raised over funding and the businesses that will be impacted by the construction of the project.

Speaking during the meeting, Umahi said the federal government has put a “human face” to the construction of the project by compensating affected property owners.

The minister said the federal government changed the project route to save some properties, adding that N2.7 billion would be paid to property owners as compensation.

“We have rerouted a number of places. At the ocean view, we saved 168 very beautiful duplexes. We have to go back to the shoreline,” he said.

“So, I wish to flag off the compensation from channel 0 to channel 3 with a total sum of N2.7 billion. That is very ambitious.”

The minister said property owners who would be compensated would receive the money before 1 pm on Thursday so that contractors can commence work.

Olukorede Keisha, the federal controller of works in Lagos, said the compensation will be done in phases.

The property owners, who were compensated, are those who have structures within channels 0 and 3 of the project.