Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, has clarified that the shoreline impacted by the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project was not owned by Landmark Africa Group’s CEO, Paul Onwuanibe.
Speaking at a meeting with affected parties, Umahi emphasized that the infrastructure aims to connect Lagos to Calabar.
Despite protests by Landmark Beach Resort employees, Umahi asserted, “The shoreline never belonged to Landmark; the owner, Onwuanibe, sublet it to people illegally.”
He challenged Landmark to produce documentation supporting their claims, accusing the owner of playing politics.
“Mr President says that this development must have two factors. One is the fear of God, and the second is the human face, and that’s what we have tried to do.
“Since we came on Thursday, we have been going through the route every day from morning to about 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. We’ve made hard decisions. In some cases, we have followed the gazetted routes. In other cases, we have realigned to the coastal line, majorly. And the coastal line from the shore, 250 metres by the Supreme Court judgment, belongs to the federal government.
“I talk in particular about Landmark. There is none of his infrastructure that is affected. I agree that there are some people he subleased the place to, but the shoreline was never given to him by the Oniru family. These people he sublet to, he erected some caravans, makeshifts, so on and so forth within the shoreline. So, we are dealing with these people who sublet the shoreline illegally,” Umahi added.
He further addressed criticism from Peter Obi, defending the project’s necessity for improved travel and economic growth.
“A similar scenario occurred when Peter Obi was governor and he made a statement. He said, ‘Any infrastructure that stands in the way of road construction must go and there will be no compensation paid.’ That’s what he said. But look at me, by the human face of the Renewed Hope Agenda administration, we are even paying for people that are illegally staying on the coastline and do not even have valid infrastructure and valid documents. That is mercy.
“You know some people counsel without knowledge. When you condemn people, you bring judgment upon yourself. And that’s what he has done,” the minister said.
