The Federal Government on Thursday inaugurated a compensation verification committee saddled with the responsibility of reviewing, evaluating and compensating landowners affected by the construction of the N15tn Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, who inaugurated the panel, also directed the committee to complete all verification and begin remuneration in 10 days ending April 28.
The move was part of efforts to hasten construction of the project set to revolutionise infrastructure in the country.
Umahi said verified claims would be settled within 72 hours by the contractor, Hitech Construction Limited, but remained silent on the total amount approved for the exercise.
The 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project has been a subject of public scrutiny, following concerns by affected stakeholders and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar over the cost, bidding and procurement processes.
The road designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through the coastal states of Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom, before culminating in Cross River, estimated to gulp over N4bn per Kilometer.
The works minister, while inaugurating the committee at the ministry headquarters in Abuja, said the gesture was in line with the renewed hope agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu which is transparency.
Umahi said, “We are committed to transparency and that is why we are inaugurating this committee today. We have had our alignment on both sections of phase one of the coastal road which is 47.7 km and the second section which is about 55km. Hence the need to set up a review committee to look at the work done by the environmental assessment team and the works to be reviewed by this committee is very simple. It is just to interact with property owners that are going to be affected and then in the process, look at the compensation as enumerated to be paid and when possible, you visit the site; and at the moment we are using the federal rate to do our remuneration.”
He further explained, “I know very well that no amount given will satisfy those affected but we are bound by the law so we are using the federal rate which is higher than Lagos State compensation rate in paying compensation. The moment the property owners sign, after filing necessary documents and bank accounts, within 72 hours, we will authorise payment.
“The contractor is going to be paying directly to all those who are affected. This, we are committed to doing, this verification exercise starts in Lagos on Wednesday.”
Good bless you sir