Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that the Federal Government has commenced the payment of N2.75 billion compensation to property owners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, spanning from channel 0 to channel 3.
Umahi made this disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lagos, on Wednesday.
While presenting dummy cheques to some property owners along the Lagos end of the road project, Umahi said the Federal Government has put a “human face” to the construction of the project by compensating affected property owners.
He added that the Federal Government changed the project route to save some properties.
“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.
“So, I wish to flag off the compensation from channel 0 to channel 3 with a total sum of N2.75 billion. That is very ambitious,” he said.
The minister said property owners who would be compensated would receive the money before 1p.m today so that contractors can commence work.
He said government has identified the owners of the affected property, adding that more compensation is expected to be paid in the coming days.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Keisha Olukorede, 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.