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Tag: Lagos-Calabar coastal road

  • APC UK exco inspects ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal road

    APC UK exco inspects ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal road

    Members of the executive of the United Kingdom Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC UK) on Friday inspected part of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal road.

    The inspection was part of their desire to promote the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, even as the electronic registration of APC members are ongoing across the federation.

    Publicity Secretary APC UK Chapter Cllr.Tunde Ajisola, gave kudos to President Bola Tinubu for bringing the vision to reality, he said he was impressed with the level of progress made so far on the road.

    “This enduring vision reminds me of 1959 when MI was constructed in the UK, people from all over the world came to see the beautiful road and they expressed delight.

    “This brings us to that era because Lagos-Calabar Coastal road is an economic corridor that is going to run across the southern states of this country and there is going to be a linkage to Sokoto-Badagry as well.

    “For me, it is money well spent and we say a very big thank you to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu for making us proud with this project,” he said.

    In his remarks, Deputy Secretary APC UK Chapter, Hon. Ayokunle Agunbiade said he was glad to be part of the team that came for the inspection.

    He said the road is a testament to the vision of a president that is ready to unify the country.

    Read Also: If you know Tinubu’s background, you’ll know he understands how to fix Nigeria — Olubadan

    He explained that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal road is a milestone achievement that will enhance both economic integration and infrastructural development across the southern coast line.

    “This is a massive project that will bring synergy and closeness across the southern states. It will bring economic integration and investment opportunities for Nigeria and Nigerians.

    “With this achievement, I urge members of the APC to continue to support President Bola Tinubu for continuity for the fulfillment of the Renewed Hope agenda for Nigeria,” he said.

    Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairman South- APC UK Chapter, Hon. Olumuyiwa Adesua explained further that the Lagos Calabar Coastal road was a vision that came to reality because of the courage of president Bola Tinubu.

    He said history has it that the implementation of the coastal road had been on paper for years, but none of the presidents ever had the courage to put it into reality until the time of the administration of Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda.

    “Going through the road, I see a road that will connect the economy of Southern Nigeria to the rest of the West African coast.

    “The Lagos-Calabar Coastal road is not all about Nigeria because from here you can get to the Republic of Benin or Togo and that is massive.

    “The economic front of the Nigerian economy is opened through this road and I believe many Nigerians will be thinking ahead to see how they are going to create businesses around this corridor, how we are going to engage the Nigerian youth.

    “We use Nigeria’s money to execute this project and Nigerians are engaged to work on it.

    “I have worked in the transport sector in the UK for years, and I know that the biggest employer of labour is the transport sector and this is also happening here.

    “There is a need for the National Assembly to create a bill for the maintenance of projects like this as Lagos-Calabar Coastal road is not all about our generation but about the generations that are yet unborn,” he stated.

  • #JusticeforCoastalRoad: Protesters demand compensation for demolition victims

    #JusticeforCoastalRoad: Protesters demand compensation for demolition victims

    A coalition of protesters under the banner of the Coalition of Concerned Individuals staged a peaceful demonstration in Lagos, demanding fair and adequate compensation for property owners affected by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

    The protest, held on Thursday, July 17, drew attention to the plight of residents and business owners whose properties were demolished to make way for the multi-billion-naira infrastructure initiative.

    Protesters decried the lack of transparency, insufficient compensation, and what they described as government indifference to the human cost of the project.

    Speaking during the protest, the Coalition’s spokesperson, Mr. Shina Loremika, criticised the government’s handling of the demolitions, accusing it of flouting due process and dispossessing citizens without adequate restitution.

    “The government cannot continue to treat people like statistics. You cannot take over private property without proper compensation. It is unjust, it is unconstitutional, and it must be addressed,” Loremika stated.

    Read Also: Buhari family expresses gratitude to Tinubu, Nigerians, global leaders for outpouring of support

    The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to connect multiple southern states via a strategic coastal route, has faced mounting criticism for how demolitions have been carried out.

    Civil society organisations and community members have pointed to widespread displacement and financial losses.

    Earlier protests had erupted in the Okun-Ajah area of Lagos, where residents and business owners accused the government of forcibly evicting people without proper dialogue or compensation mechanisms in place.

    As legal battles continue in court, affected individuals and rights groups insist they will not back down until the government offers justice and relief to those impacted.

    The #JusticeForCoastalRoad campaign has since gained traction online, with thousands of Nigerians calling for accountability, transparency, and a more humane approach to national development.

  • Winhomes CEO hails Tinubu, seeks intervention in Lagos-Calabar coastal road crisis

    Winhomes CEO hails Tinubu, seeks intervention in Lagos-Calabar coastal road crisis

    The Chief Executive Officer of Winhomes Global Estate Engr. (Mrs.) Stella Okengwu has felicitated with President Bola Tinubu for 2025 pleading with him for quick intervention on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road diversion crisis. 

    The real estate guru in a New Year message commended Tinubu on his bold reforms aimed at repositioning the country for progress, and Nigerians for their resilience. 

    She however appealed for quick intervention into  Lagos-Calabar Coastal matter to save the investments of hundreds of Nigerians in the Diaspora in Winhomes Global Estate projects around the area.

    She worried that the lingering crisis has jeopardised investments worth millions in the Okun Ajah axis of Lagos.

    She said the decision by the Ministry of Works to divert the Lagos-Calabar Coastal was not too healthy for the nation’s investment profile.

    “This situation threatens the investments of patriotic Nigerians in the diaspora who heeded the President’s call to contribute to Nigeria’s growth. I appeal to President Tinubu  to intervene directly to restore the original coastal road alignment, and ensure that the Senate Committee on Works investigates  corruption allegations surrounding this diversion. 

     “This is crucial to safeguard  investments and restore confidence in the real estate sector,” she submitted. 

    Okengwu explained that affected investors  followed legal protocols and possess all necessary documentation, including certificates of occupancy and coastal road clearance . 

    She averred that diaspora investments were critical to national development and should be guarded. 

    “Protecting these investments is not just about saving properties but about ensuring that Nigeria remains an attractive destination for investors,” she said.

  • Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road will be a game changer, says NIESV president

    Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road will be a game changer, says NIESV president

    • Alonge: there’s $800b dead capital in housing sector

    The Lagos-Calabar coastal road project will stand out as the largest infrastructure with multiple benefits yet to be built by any government in the country, the Nigeria Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV) president Victor Alonge has said.

    According to him, “There is no project that can be as transformational as the Lagos -Calabar Coastal Road which includes provision for a rail line. The hydrocarbon belt of these coastal states will be practically exhumed as the road will traverse the oil-producing states to create new investment opportunities in refineries, petrochemicals and energy plants. The massive potential for tourism from eco-tourism and beaches, marine investments and new town developments, the highway is a game-changer for the Nigerian economy”.

    He spoke yesterday during a visit to the Headquarters of The Nation in Lagos. He was received by a management team led by the editor Adeniyi Adesina.

    Alonge was accompanied by top officials of the organisation, including National Publicity Secretary Richard Olodu.

    According to Alonge, globally, developed economies find a way to envision and finance projects that expand their economies, creating new growth opportunities and opening up new frontiers to development. He was emphatic that this is why even in tough economic times, the role of the government to stimulate recovery through infrastructure spending cannot be downplayed.

    The NIESV helmsman stated that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is a greenfield road, which will traverse some of the harshest terrains in Nigeria, the swampy coastal belt, with several bridges along the route. This, he said, explains why the project cost appears rather high to many people.

    Notwithstanding that the Works Minister, Dave Umahi, has repeatedly restated the financing model of the project, critics have being unrelenting.

    However, Umahi, Along recalled, has explained at several fora that the Federal Government will only bear a fraction of the cost as the project will run under the Engineering, Procurement and Construction plus Financing (EPC+F) model.

    “This unique model ensures that the contractor sources the funds for the job, aside from the counterpart provided by the Federal Government, part of which has been paid to ensure that work commences.

    “The contractor finance model frees up funds for the Federal Government to deploy to existing roads, where work is continuing at a pace that is commendable, ensuring that existing roads are not abandoned,” he further explained.

    Alonge also frowned at what he called the “stock of dead capital” in the housing sector which he said is worth $800 billion. “Dead capital” refers to assets or property that cannot be easily converted into productive use, often due to legal or institutional barriers. In Nigeria, many property have undocumented or informal land titles, making it difficult for owners to prove their ownership and fully utilise the value of their assets

    Read Also: Monarch hails Tinubu, Umahi over Lagos-Calabar coastal road

    He expressed misgivings that while these properties exist, they have no titles and cannot be traded on to raise capital for development in the economy as they cannot be used as collateral for loans or other credit facility. He called for effective and efficient land administration  that will remove the bottle necks of land titling because it also affects the country’s revenue and development as most of the monies don’t get into government coffers  as it should due to the maladministration of land.

    He urged the government to remove encumbrances such as multiple agencies demanding the same document, delays, bureaucracy and multiple payments.  He stated that the challenges encountered by the public in getting Governors Consent and other land titles or building approvals, for instance, encourage people to build their houses without approval and thereby depriving government humongous revenue.

    Alonge also canvassed the need for the government to engage professionals in its land and real estate matters because professional input for the inherent benefits to both government and the generality of the public.

  • Monarch hails Tinubu, Umahi over Lagos-Calabar coastal road

    Monarch hails Tinubu, Umahi over Lagos-Calabar coastal road

    The  Balogun of Ode-Omi  Kingdom, High Chief Shittu Aliu Adeyemi has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi over the construction of the Lagos -Calabar Coastal Road.

    The community leader also appreciated the Lagos state government for the completion of Ode Omi Master plan which is scheduled for presentation on the 25th July, 2024.

    Speaking with reporters he expressed delight for the road which passes through their ancient community.

    He said, “We are using this medium to thank our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and of course , the Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. David Umahi for the ongoing construction of the Lagos -Calabar Coastal Road.

    “This laudable project will bring enlighment to the ancient history of Ode-Omi is the first ijebu town and the kingdom of Lenuwa, this will also connect ode omi people with their siblings in Warri Kingdom,  Omadino, Ode Itsekiri, Ijala, Idaleketa and other Ijebu kingdoms in Delta State.”

    While expressing the community’s heartfelt appreciation to the Lagos state government over the presentation of Ode-Omi Master plan, the Balogun stressed that, the community still needs some basic amenities.

    “I would like to appreciate the Lagos State government for the completion of Master Plan of Ode-Omi kingdom and the little development we are still expecting about OKLNG Olokola Ode Omi Gas Company abandoned by previous Administration. 

    “We are pleading with the Lagos State Government, as a border town we need Divisional police Headquarters because of the kidnapping activities, we also need Jety ferries services, Electricity and  other amenities in community,” he said.

    He said the Ode Omi Kingdom is one of the most neglected ancient community with over 75 villages headed by Baale (lesser Chiefs) on the border between Lagos,  Ogun and Ondo States with population over 3 million  people.

  • Tinubu lists benefits of Lagos-Calabar coastal road

    Tinubu lists benefits of Lagos-Calabar coastal road

    • It’s my day to brag as a happy man, says President

    • Work to start from C’River, A’Ibom simultaneously with Lagos

    • Sections one and two to be completed in 24 months

    The construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road will bring benefits that are “more than imaginable”, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said yesterday.

    He spoke at the groundbreaking of the 700km highway at Ahmadu Bellow Way, Victoria Island, Lagos.

    The President has also approved the simultaneous commencement of work from the Cross River and Akwa Ibom end of the highway.

    Describing himself as a “happy man” and the day “as my day of bragging”, a boisterous Tinubu dispelled fears being expressed on the project, saying it rather brings hope to the people and a bright future for the country.

    The President said: “During the period of construction, the road will provide direct employment to thousands of people and indirect employment to tens of thousands of artisans and more.

    “Economic opportunities for millions are being opened. It will fast-track community development. It will bring development closer to the people and give 30 million people improved access to production and marketing centres.

    “You can easily predict a journey vertically and go along the horizontal line and do the definition of your geometry.

    “For free movement of people, geometry teaches us that the straight line is the shortest distance between two points. Go for it.

    “The potential of the road is enormous. The spur to Sokoto is undergoing procurement.

    “Let us speed up the financial details being worked out. Don’t be afraid, we will do this road.

    “It will be a success for Nigeria and we will do more. I am a very happy man today. Share with me in the joy.”

    He said the project will also complement the expansion of the country’s maritime industry in the wake of the recent decision by the UN to grant Nigeria an extension of its continental shelf by an additional 16,300 square kilometres.

    “We must take advantage of it,” he said, adding that the establishment of more export processing zones along the coastal states must be a priority.

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    The President added: “We said we will do this road, we’re determined to do it. The way we’re going, we’ll have a road that will outlive all of us here. That is how to build the future.

    “The project is more than just a mere road; it is a symbol of hope, unity and prosperity.

    “It will connect communities and bring prosperity to people, create opportunities for millions. We’re at it…hold on to the right side, and you’ll have opportunities; hold on to the left side of it, you’ll have prosperity.

    “For our nation to excel, we just have to be bold and courageous in our endeavours.

    “Thanks to Hiteck (the contractor)  for believing in us and for believing in the country, Nigeria.

    “Not just talking about Lekki Deep Seaport and all the economic opportunities along that coast, what is a 700km concrete paved road? What it will bring is just more than imaginable.”

    He also applauded the Chairman of Hi-Tech Construction Company, Amb. Gilbert Chagoury, and Engr. Ronald Chagoury, whose company is handling the project, for being worthy stakeholders and believing in the Nigerian project.

    “We worked to tame the Atlantic and turned a disaster into a great asset and value. We lost weight and took abuses, but we tamed the Atlantic. We achieved our goals,” the President said, recounting how the indigenous company successfully executed a project to prevent the Atlantic Ocean from encroaching on endangered sections of the Lagos shoreline.

    He also applauded Aliko Dangote, who was present at the event, for his enduring capacity in business and commitment to continue investing in Nigeria, urging other industrialists to emulate Dangote’s commitment to investing in Nigeria.

    President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, on behalf of the 10th National Assembly, declared his strong support for the coastal highway project.

    He appealed for an executive bill to amend the Procurement Act to ensure speedy completion of projects.

    “Nigerians are behind you, Mr. President. Do not be afraid.

    “A few days ago, we were debating at the Senate and we concluded that we must amend the Procurement Act.

    “A situation where you want to construct a road of N100million and you start by putting N2million this year means you will finish the job in 50 years.

    “We must be in a position to budget in a way that we also look at the tenure of the presidency and the government,” he said.

    He described the existing budgeting process as flawed and partly responsible for the abandonment of over 14,000 projects across the country.

    Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, announced that the President has directed that sections 3 and 4 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project should commence from Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.

    Emphasising that due process was followed in awarding the contract for this transformative project, the Minister described President Tinubu as an uncommon thinker and courageous leader.

    Umahi said over 40 new projects are ongoing across the country, and all compensations up to kilometre 6 of the Lagos-Calabar project have been paid.

    He assured that the routes of the project have been re-aligned based on the President’s instructions and environmental assessment reports, while the first section of the project will be inaugurated before the end of President Tinubu’s second year, and will be tolled.

    The Oniru of Iruland in Lagos State, Oba Abdulwasiu Lawal, in whose domain the project is situated, assured the President that the community will ensure the removal of all bottlenecks.

    He stated that his people had made painful sacrifices for the project to materialise and called for adequate compensation for his people.

    In separate remarks, governors Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Abdulrahman Abdulrazak (Kwara), and Hope Uzodinma (Imo) described the wide-ranging support from sub-nationals as a vote of confidence in the national acceptance of the project.

    At the coastal road flag-off were governors, deputy governors, Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila; the Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Dr Umar Ganduje; ministers, members of the National Assembly, traditional rulers and dignitaries.

    Most of them had earlier attended the inauguration of the reconstructed Apapa-Oworonshoki-Ojota Expressway and the rehabilitated Third Mainland Bridge.

  • Lagos-Calabar coastal road: ‘Don’t move present alignment’

    Lagos-Calabar coastal road: ‘Don’t move present alignment’

    Residents of Okun-Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos State have decried an attempt by some elements in the town to pressurise Minister of Works, David Umahi, to move the already signed Lagos-Calabar coastal road alignment to their part of the community.

    They called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to come to their aid.

    In a statement yesterday, the indigenes, as Okun-Ajah Community Development Association, alleged that some agitators, who visited the federal controller of works for Lagos State, noted the present alignment would cause demolition of 2000 houses, a claim that is utterly false.

    The statement said: “The alignment as it stands defines the Coastal Road project, as it passes by the coastal area as it should be. Yes, the alignment isn’t the main alignment originally proposed by the Bola Tinubu administration in Lagos State in 2006, neither is it the second realignment which accommodates Nigerians who acquired lands with a CoO…

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    “We appeal to the President, Sanwo-Olu; Speaker of House of Assembly, Modashiru Obasa, and Umahi, to come to our aid. The alignment cannot be moved back as this will result in loss of lives and property.

    Okun-Ajah has preserved the portion gazzetted in the survey attached to Certificate of Occupancy prepared and signed by Lagos State Surveyor General, and the alignment has been marked by Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development since 2006/2013.

    “At no time did we receive any communication the alignment has been shifted from the original.

    “Before we bought and erected our property, with C of O of December 2006 No. 69/69/2006AC, we double checked from Ministry of Physical Planning that we did not encroach on the Right of Way of the road alignment…’’

  • Lagos-Calabar coastal road as vista of economic opportunities

    Lagos-Calabar coastal road as vista of economic opportunities

    By Tajudeen Adigun

    To the rats in a covered gourd, the gourd is their universe. The space in the gourd put  a terrible limitation on their view of life. Those who see nothing good in the 700-kilomtre coastal road share the limitation of rats in a gourd.

    It might not be the longest road in Africa, but the Lagos-Calabar coastal road would be the longest highway in Nigeria after its completion. A silver bullet road that would run across two geo-political  zones of the country; the Southwest and South-South and capable of  boosting the economy beyond experts and technocrats’ expectation.

    The 700-kilometre long concrete road will, undoubtedly, impose an earlier unknown ruggedness of special iron underlay mats on the muddy soft-mangrove forest terrain. This would be creamed off with a thick layer of concrete that is capable of carrying vehicles of variety of weights that would drive on with. No wonder the seemingly prohibitive cost. Four billion naira per kilometre

    It is not only the length of the road that is intimidating and unprecedented, its whooping N15 trillion cost is equally awesome. Some obervers have insinuated padding of the cost.  It’s, therefore, not a surprise that the N4 billion per kilometer road has attracted flurry of criticism. Some people tagged it prohibitive, while others say it’s government’s joker to openly fleece the treasury for slush  funds to prosecute the 2027 presidential election. Those shouting themselves hoarse, calling it sheer prodigality or misplaced priority are not on the same page with the President. They could not see the magic to economic  buoyance that the project portends. The coastal road is a new forward moving instrument that could breathe oxygen to the troubled economy. It will be a relief for an economy that gasping for breath

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    Funded on the Public-Private arrangement; the Federal Government would contribute 30 per cent, while Hi-Tech construction firm  would foot the balance of 70 per cent. This coastal project  has not only  been passed by the National Assembly  in the 2024 budget, it has also been twice  approved by the Federal Executive (FEC). It was, therefore, not a surprise that work has started on the Lagos end of the project. The road would, undoubtedly open up the virgin mangrove forest to unleash  multiple opportunities for revenue-generating activities to facilitate multiple economic benefits that will turn round the fortune of residents and other technically-trained hands. It’s a fertile ground for setting up  a vast hospitality industry. Besides, it could also provide opportunities for  setting  up of commercial fishing hub, if the government is desirable of  making the area a fish basket of the nation. The potential bounty of the sea and littoral edibles such as fishes, crabs, lobsters,  not to talk of other water  species from the ocean that are awaiting exploitation to garnish dining tables across the country.

    Trawlers combing the sea for a large-scale fishing, smaller vehicles harvesting the littoral coast for what it could offer. Refrigerated warehouses sited at strategic points to offering retail services of iced fish to take their consignments to the people.  The fish depots on the coastal road are just low-hanging fruits that would not only create markets , but also  offer job opportunities. This would reduce unemployment long queues, increasing disposable  income in the workers’ pockets as the government too would  have  more people on tax –paying list.

    The 700-kilometre is an ideal route for setting up hospitality industry to promote tourism.  Amusement parks, castles, hanging pedestrian bridges not to talk of tourist villages built to serve both home and foreign guests and vistors. Recreation centres that boast of different class of hotels and restaurants are also sign-posts that would kick-off benevolent economic activities.  Fuel stations that would inevitably spring up along the road are another source of job creation. The created value-chain  of service delivery that would absorb some unemployed  youths, men and women would not leave the economy positively unaffected. Foreign tourists would undoubtedly be attracted. What a source of hard currency (foreign currencies) path to boost supply to Nigeria’s foreign exchange market.  Individual entrepreneurs would tap into the opportunity of building tourist villages, castles, hanging -bridges in the mangrove forest to bring flurry of activities that could give tourists pleasure of cool breeze from the open ocean’s view.

    A challenged economy as that of the present day Nigeria in the doldrums could be retrieved from the  quagmire that is threatening to make life unbearable for the people. Tools such as monetary and fiscal policy could be deployed to the rescue. The coastal road is new avenue that could serve as a Midas touch that would provide opportunities to nurture the economy to buoyance.

    The present poor economic situation in the country; worsened by paucity of funds to finance development projects could be said to have made partnership the choice to finance  the coastal road project. The viability and the embedded profitability, it should be noted would have made it attractive to the Hi-Tech firm for  participation. The government  would exploit the opportunity of a private firm participation to reflate the slumped economy to a bubbling, robust and fast expanding economy that has what it takes to attract more foreign investors.

  • We lost N87b to realignment of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, says South Energx

    We lost N87b to realignment of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, says South Energx

    South Energyx Nigeria Limited, owners of the Eko Atlantic City in Lagos, is bemoaning the loss of about N87 billion, an estimated cost of the reclamation/sand filling it did to the realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road.

    The Assistant Public Relations Officer of South Energyx, Mr Larry Akanbi, in an interview with The Nation,  noted what he called  two issues at stake – the land they reclaimed that the coastal road will now pass through, and the rift between them and the owners of Landmark Beach.

    He  lamented the wrong narrative where the public is meant to believe that Eko Atlantic City further reclamation would eventually turn their beach to dry ground, thus dressing them in the cloak of aggressors in the eyes of the public.

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    Akanbi said: “To put the records straight,   we are the victims here and not the aggressors, as we are made to look like.

    “The Federal Government, shifted the right of way (ROW) of the coastal road, bending it into the land reclaimed by  us legally to save some valuable structures at the Landmark Centre.”

    Akanbi said  the Water Corporation Road was  the original alignment government planned to use but they later realised that  if they start from that end, by the time they get to where Queens Event Centre is, the  demolition would be more massive than what we have.

    He added: “The government in their wisdom committed themselves to less demolition. In fact, there is hardly any serious demolition right now in the sense that what has happened really is not like any of the structure of Landmark is affected; what has been consumed is the beach.

    “Our position is that, you did not even own the beach, where you are using today, as the beach is part of our land -Eko Atlantic city – and that ideally you should be paying us money but we have not asked you for any money because we were not in need of the land then.

    “Now, what the Federal Government has even done is to save some of the structures because they said if they go by their original alignment, it will consume part of the Event Centre and the Mall. What this means is that Eko Atlantic City itself will suffer loss of land because the coastal road now enters into the land of Eko Atlantic City. ‘‘

    “You know two parties are involved now, there is the federal government’s coastal road, there’s is Eko Atlantic City by the South Energyx, and because they shifted the ROW, the road now enters into our Eko Atlantic city, meaning that we are losing N87 billion for all the land that we reclaimed to sell to Developers which the  Coastal highway has encroached on”.

    “Again, another point that should be validly made to owner of Landmark Centre is that the beach he is claiming to ownership of is that by the time the Eko Atlantic City sand fills, and reclamation gets to that place, there would be no beach again. So, whether he like it or not, now or in the near future, that beach will not be there again”.

    “It is only unfortunate that now the coastal road has come quickly to consume the beach. But our original deposition was that we will be able to get to work round it and there will be a win-win situation but his public utterance has made that impossible”.

    “For example, eventually when we finish the Eko Atlantic City, even right now if you have entered it, you will see that there is still a beach inside. We will say, okay, let’s concession it, you can be using it, but we now saw that rather than him (Landmark owner)  challenging the federal government and the ministry of works, that won’t want to even compensate you for any displacement  it is  the person that has been your licencee without collecting money for the land you are using, that you are facing.

    “The ugly part of it is that the story is now being tilted against us; rather than us being the victim, we are now the aggressor. So, that is what has happened and that is the impression we don’t want the public to have, as if we are oppressing this man over the land.”

    Akanbi said, “They are painting us as the aggressor whereas we are the victim. It is our land you are on, it is our land you have been using since and that is why I told you about that google app, you can do it yourself and see how the thing moves. So, saying that you have been there since 2008, that means you have been where water was”.

    “From 2018, you can see how reclamation was being done, how the land was settled before it became what we are using. So you can’t even claim that you are the one that reclaimed the beach because it was a settlement, just like driving water away then finding yourself elsewhere. That is the same way that the water does and when the wave comes it brings sub-sand and deposits there and that is the authentication of position”.

    “He has  been enjoying the beach without paying money. He ought to be paying us ideally from the money he makes on that beach, if we wanted to insist on our right, but we are not”.

    Asked if Landmark had taken them to court, he said, “Well, as of now that I’m talking to you, we have not seen any case. You see what he says with his mouth is more potent than the court itself because an average person in Lagos will think that we are oppressing him. That is even more destructive than the court. The impression you create for the people, in fact, some people today see it that way.

    “What we are trying to do is to put our own facts out, let people know our own side of the story that we are not oppressing anybody. In fact, if anything, we are the ones that are the victims because they have been enjoying Oniru and Landmark Beach, which by law is ours . Ideally they should be paying us.”

  • Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road: Reps demand letter of guarantees, credit instruments for approval

    Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road: Reps demand letter of guarantees, credit instruments for approval

    • Lawmakers to probe procurement process

    The House of Representatives yesterday urged the Minister of Finance and his Justice counterpart to furnish the National Assembly with all guarantees and credit enhancement instruments for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project for approval.

    The House also resolved to investigate the procurement and award processes of the multi-billion coastal road project.

    In a resolution following a motion of urgent public importance by Austin Achado (APC, Benue), the House also asked the Ministry of Works to present to the National Assembly details of the procurement processes leading to the award of the contract.

    There have been controversies surrounding the award of the contract to Hitech Construction Company for the over 700-kilometre road that is expected to be completed in five years.

    Achado told the House that the procurement process did not follow due process, adding that funding for the project was also not approved by the National Assembly.

    The lawmaker said the Federal Ministry of Works had executed an engineering procurement construction and finance contract in favour of Hitech Construction Company Nigeria Limited for the delivery of the 700km road and rail project estimated at N4.329 billion per kilometer.

    He said reinforced concrete technology would be used for the road with a carriage width of 59.7 metres to include 10 lanes, shoulders and rail with additional designs of service ducts, street lights, drainages and shore protection.

    Achado noted that the laudable project, with the prospect of providing easy access for the movement of goods and services across the nation, has a financing structure, as announced by the Minister of Works, which requires the Federal Government to provide 15 to 30 per cent co-financing, while the private sector counterpart would provide the balance.

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    The lawmaker announced that the road would be tolled when completed for a minimum period of 15 years to ensure full recovery of all debts and equity applied for the delivery of the project.

    But he expressed concern that the procurement strategy used in the award of the contract may have violated Section 40(2) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

    According to him, she section stipulates that where a procuring authority adopts the use of Restrictive Tendering Approach, it should be on the basis that the goods and services are available only from a limited number of suppliers and contractors.

    Achado said tenders should be invited from all contractors that could provide such goods and services.

    The lawmaker argued that the procurement strategy adopted by the Federal Ministry of Works for the award of the contract violated the Infrastructure Concession and Regulatory Commission Act 2905.

    He said Section 4 of the Act outlines that all approved infrastructure projects and contracts for Financing, Construction and Maintenance must be advertised for Open Competitive Public Bid, in at least three national dailies.

    Achado drew attention to Section 5 of the Act, which stipulates that any direct negotiations with only one Contractor could be allowed, only after exhausting the provisions of Section 4.