Anxiety, Frustration Trail FG’s Demolition of Properties as Coastal Road Project Takes-off in Lagos

James Emejo in Abuja

Nigerians have expressed concerns over the federal government’s commencement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction and the resulting demolition of Landmark Beach and other facilities in Lagos without a proper work plan and engagement with owners.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, recently flagged off the demolition of structures on the government’s right of way to construct the coastal highway.

However, there are accusations that the government had embarked upon the project haphazardly and without a clear plan. Some victims who spoke to Arise News, the broadcast arm of THISDAY Newspapers alleged the whole exercise was shrouded in uncertainty.

Social media reports further alleged that compensations had not been paid to owners of properties along the beach resort including schools and residential buildings before the demolition, further heightening frustrations.

There is also no clear demarcation of the areas to be affected by the demolition with someone claiming that even the government workers engaged in the pulling down of structures appeared not to know what to do when confronted.

While protests have trailed the demolitions, Umahi told journalists last Saturday that no structure belonging to the Landmark Beach Resort was demolished, adding that only shanties erected on the government’s right of way were affected.

The minister said “Landmark has unfortunately made so much noise about this. I have revisited the place, and I can say none of his infrastructure is affected. Just the shanties are affected and they are bulldozed already. We are passing our coastal bridge within the right of way of the federal government.

“I have directed that the beach should be shut down for tomorrow and there is no beach. The place is owned by people who are sand-filling it, and at the end of the day, there is no more beach.”

But there are claims that some structures have already been affected while some businesses around the hitherto vibrant coastal areas have shut down.

The development has affected economic livelihoods, resulting from job losses as the destination is visited by millions annually. 

A Landmark staff in the office of the Chief Executive, Joche Angbazo, said though the office had been in contact with the Ministry of Work over the development, nothing reason had emerged from the engagement.

She expressed disappointment that while the company was trying to improve tourism and beautify the coastal landscape, the company had now been targeted for demolition.

She claimed there had been confusion in the vicinity as nobody knew what the government intended to pull down because of a lack of effective communication with the people around the area.

Landmark Beach Manager, Mr. Roland Ejetomobi said the company’s employees are grappling with mounting concerns concerning the fate of their jobs and the trajectory of their future in the wake of the development.

He said, “The reality is that if the beach goes away, my job is gone and everyone in my team – the service and support teams, we are going to lose our jobs.

“And because of the scare of this, most of the job owners are already exiting which means that as of today, there won’t be any means of opportunity in terms of jobs for their staff.

“There are just lots of fingers pointing at Landmark and it seems that it is a target on Landmark but I can’t say why; we don’t know.”