On Thursday, the government started a committee to check, assess, and compensate landowners impacted by the building of the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, also told the committee to finish checking and start paying within 10 days, by April 28.
This step is part of the effort to speed up the construction of the project, which is expected to greatly improve the country's infrastructure.
Umahi stated that the contractor, Hitech Construction Ltd, will take care of verified claims within 72 hours, but did not mention the total amount allocated for the process.
The 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project has faced public scrutiny due to concerns from affected stakeholders and former vice president, Atiku Abubakar, about the cost, bidding, and procurement process.
The road, meant to link Lagos to Cross River through several coastal states, will cost N4 billion per kilometer.
The minister, during the committee's formation at the ministry headquarters in Abuja, said that this action aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s administration's commitment to transparency and the renewed hope agenda.
He also cautioned that only property owners with proven titles will get compensation, while shanties and those with property within the 250m shoreline setback without a federal government title will not be compensated, as it's a legal issue.
He mentioned that the committee is responsible for communicating with affected property owners, evaluating compensation details, and potentially visiting the sites for proper assessment.
He added that the federal compensation rate, not a lower figure set by the Lagos State Government, will determine the amount.
Umahi emphasized, “We are committed to transparency, and that's why we are forming this committee today. We have aligned on both sections of phase one of the coastal road, which is 47.7 km, and the second section, which is about 55km.
So, there is a need to establish a review committee to examine the work done by the Environmental assessment team. The task for this committee is to engage with affected property owners, evaluate the compensation to be paid, and when possible, visit the site. Currently, we are using the federal rate for payment.
“I understand that no amount given will fully satisfy those affected, but we are obligated to follow the law. Therefore, we are using federal rates, which are higher than the compensation rate set by Lagos State. Once the property owners sign and submit the necessary paperwork and bank details, we will authorize payment within 72 hours.
“The contractor will directly pay all those affected. We are committed to this process, and the verification will begin in Lagos on Wednesday”.
Umahi said that besides checking the people to be paid, the committee will also check that the measurements will be calculated based on area and volume.
He said that after checking, the property owners would sign, and then the contractor would be told to pay the compensation.
He, however, said that if there is a problem with the ownership of the land, a presidential waiver would be required before those people would receive payment.
“So only those that have proven ownership rights will be paid as they are brought to us in the ministry, although it will still go through some processes from us.
“We have to make it very clear that 250 metres of the road legally belongs to the federal government.
“So if you have a title within these 250 metres and it is not a title from the federal government, then it is necessary, and only the President will give a waiver if he so wishes for payment. So I will work within the confines of the law,” he said
Instructing the committee to be careful in following the law, he said, “The committee is not in charge of anything other than to check those who are going to be paid compensation, the authenticity of those filing for compensation, check the measurements, if possible, the amount and when the property owner signs, once these are confirmed, we instruct the contractor to go ahead and pay.
“It is from the contractor’s money where the compensation is sent.
“But if there is a problem with ownership, it will need a presidential waiver for such to be paid. Only those with proven ownership rights will be paid as they are brought to us in the Ministry because they will still undergo all the verification processes.
“So anyone with ownership rights within the 250m and it is not a Federal government ownership right, then it is necessary that only the President can give a waiver if he feels so for the person to be paid.
“So, I will work within the confines of the law.”
