Residents of shanties and caravan owners along the Lagos-Calabar coastal road will not receive compensation, according to Umahi

Minister of Works, David Umahi, clarified that individuals residing in shanties and caravans along the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar coastal road would not receive compensation from the federal government, emphasizing that only those with permanent structures would be eligible for compensation during the demolition process for the road project.

Umahi made this statement during a stakeholders meeting on the Lagos-Calabar highway project, where property owners were seeking compensation for planned demolitions along the coastal highway project.

Highlighting the extensive infrastructure projects inherited from the previous administration, Umahi noted that the current government had allocated funds in the 2024 budget to facilitate their completion. Despite a funding gap of N2.7 trillion in the Ministry of Works, Umahi affirmed the government’s commitment to closing these gaps with prudent financial management to drive project completion nationwide.

Regarding the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, Umahi outlined its estimated cost of N15.356 trillion and projected completion within eight years. He clarified that while the project involves elements of Engineering, Procurement, Construction, and Finance (EPC+F), it is not a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) but rather a commitment by the Federal Government with negotiated funding.

Umahi emphasized the economic significance of infrastructure development, stating that it reduces inflation and enhances the viability of the economy, attracting foreign direct investment along economic corridors. He highlighted the potential of the coastal project to interconnect states and regions, fostering tourism, commerce, water transportation, manufacturing, hospitality, and real estate development.

Assuring compensation for qualified owners affected by the coastal road project, Umahi reiterated that the government retains ownership of the coastal road.