The Federal Government of Nigeria has kicked off its demolition exercise along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
David Umahi, the Minister of Works, has earlier ordered the closure of Landmark Beach, Lagos starting from Sunday at a press briefing held at Landmark Beach on Saturday.
“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,” he added.
Over the course of the previous week, Korede Keisha, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, had ordered everyone whose property was scheduled for demolition to come to the ministry’s secretariat in Lagos in order to complete the necessary procedures before demolition starts on Saturday.
Speaking on, Umahi disclosed that from Wednesday or Thursday, compensation would be paid to the affected individuals.
He said, “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.”
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