Minister of Work, Engr. David Umahi, has said no fewer than 700 owners of structures affected by the ongoing 700-kilometre Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway phase 1 have been paid compensation.

The minister disclosed this during the stakeholders? engagement on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Section 11, held at Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday.

Umahi seized the occasion to correct the false narratives being propagated on the Landmark?s demolition issue and one international woman who claimed that her $250 million investment was affected by the project.

According to the minister, compensations were appropriately paid to about 700 owners of structures affected by the rights of way in section one of the infrastructure.

The minister said the Federal Government will continue to engage with stakeholders and contractors on the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road to seek the best economical route to save more properties from being affected by the project, especially as section two of the road infrastructure commences.

The minister said the infrastructure project being constructed with the support of President Bola Tinubu?s Renewed Hope Agenda is aimed at evacuating traffic jams from the existing routes.

According to him, the project is not only for today but ensuring future development as well as investment.

He hinted that clearing and dredging have commenced in section two of the project, which, according to him, followed the extant law and best practices.

He commended the contractor for a job well done on the project, which entails ensuring the pavement level, safeguarding the shoreline, and putting in place measures that would address climate change.

The minister assured that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project would come with many facilities which included rail line in the middle

He said the project would safeguard and promote the economic development of the people, state, and the country.

He said: ?The infrastructure is being done with a human face, hence the stakeholder?s meetings.?

In their goodwill messages, stakeholders and community leaders at the event commended the federal government and the Ministry of Work, urging the authorities to put measures in place to address the issue of dredging and other things that might affect the durability and sustainability of the project. (Nigerian Tribune)

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