By Onwubuke Melvin – The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has flagged off the demolition of a section of the Landmark Beach while ordering the closure of the landmark Beach on Sunday 26 April.
The Minister made this disclosure during a press briefing at Landmark Beach on Sunday.
Umahi pointed out that the demolition was necessary to clear structures on the federal government’s Right-of-way.
He said, “We want to start the demolition from this point, I continue to say that none of the infrastructure is affected, just the shanties, and I have directed that the beach should be shut down from tomorrow.
“The place is owned by people that are sand filling it, and at the end of the day, there is no more beach, so what we are doing is to pass our coastal road within the Right of Way of the Federal Government. Those who are playing politics with it can go ahead; my job is simple, which is to pass the coastal road.”
“From Wednesday/Thursday, I will pay the compensation, that is why I am still here and I will be here working through the week. For anyone (all that has been confirmed and deserving) being demolished, we would direct the payment to be made.
“I know that you must pay before you demolish, but this is President Bola Tinubu’s government, we have said we would pay compensation, and we are going to pay compensation,” he added.
Umahi noted he inspected kilometres 13, 16, and 20 to ensure the demolition stays along the coastal roads without much damage.
He explained, “We are not doing this because of any particular reason, we are considering the most economical and bible way to pass this coastal road without much damage and we are also considering the economic value of the coastal road if we stay within the coast.”
He noted that the demolition was necessary for that landmark centre was on the federal government’s Right-of-way.
The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway will cost N4bn per kilometre and a whooping N15trn for the project.
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