In an interview on Arise Television, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, affirmed that the Landmark Beach Resort property will not face demolition as part of the 700-kilometer coastal road project connecting Lagos State with Calabar. He reassured that no jobs would be lost due to this project.
Umahi stated, “I was at Landmark yesterday to assess the situation. Despite concerns that 12,000 jobs may be lost, I assured Landmark that no jobs would be lost due to our actions.
“What could be affected is the shoreline and the recreational activities at the shoreline. However, Landmark’s facilities will remain intact as we have reduced the corridor by 50 meters.
“I observed that there are no permanent structures other than a few shanties along the shoreline that are impacted. I assured him that no job would be lost, and he concurred.”
The minister further explained, “The ownership of the land is not my concern, but according to the Waterways Act and a recent Supreme Court judgement, ownership of the shoreline belongs to the Federal Government (FG), extending 250 meters from the point of the shoreline.
“However, we are interested because it’s an investment, and we support it. We are reclaiming 50 meters of that shoreline, and this decision is irrevocable. I also suggested to him that if he’s interested in the waterways, he should create one on top.”
It’s noteworthy that the Lagos State Government had issued a demolition notice to the $200 million Landmark Beach Resort, citing obstruction to the planned route of the coastal road project.
The proprietor of Landmark Beach Resort, Paul Onwuanibe, revealed in an interview with CNN that he was given a notice to vacate within seven days for demolition. The resort accommodates over 80 businesses and sustains over 4,000 jobs directly.
Onwuanibe emphasized that the property contributes more than N2 billion in taxes annually and attracts about a million local and foreign visitors yearly.
The construction of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway, spanning 700 kilometers, commenced in March. The project, designed to extend through nine states with two spurs leading to the Northern States, aims to improve connectivity and transportation infrastructure.
During the official handover of the first phase, which includes a 47.47-kilometer dual carriageway, Umahi disclosed that the road would be built using concrete pavement. He commended Hitech Construction Company Ltd. for its significant progress in completing 1.3 kilometers of the required filling.
(source : vanguard )