By Owaikhena Osikhekha
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is a game-changer in Nigeria’s quest for economic development. The bold and ambitious 700 kilometre highway will enhance value and harness the country’s abundant resources when completed.
The project is a crucial step in Nigeria’s efforts to enhance connectivity, facilitate economic growth and improve the quality of life for the people. It is a symbol of hope, unity and prosperity. The highway will connect communities in nine states, foster trade and create new opportunities for generations to come.
The coastal highway is so important that we should not allow the clamour for compensation by some property owners affected to derail the project.
The Bola Tinubu’s administration has demonstrated compassion and fidelity in dealing with the issues relating to compensation payment. The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi initially announced the sum of N8b ( eight billion naira) for payment of compensation to property owners in the section one of the project. The government increased the sum to N18b ( eighteen billion naira) in the face of reality. This is a move worthy of commendation by well – meaning Nigerians.
The Minister of Works held a crucial meeting with stakeholders on the fourth of November in Lagos in a bid to assuage the feelings of the property owners affected by the project.
Senator Umahi said the government was willing and has paid owners of illegal structures out of government magnanimity. According to him, the government is operating under legal guidelines, but remains open to reviewing additional documents to facilitate swift compensation payment.
Under the Land Use Act, owners of empty lands are not entitled to receive compensation .
This is a sticky point which can be resolved even when the law is on the side of the government.
Some of the property owners have gone to court to ventilate their grievances. This is preferable in a democratic instead of resorting to self help. The government on its part has hired a team of lawyers to defend its position. In spite of these litigations, the door to possible exploration of the Alternative Dispute Resolution ( ADR) mechanism should never be shut . This project is too crucial to the nation for it to suffer any legal encumbrances .
Let’s be frank , the nation’s current laws clearly state that the government can take ownership of any land in the overriding public interest for project development . But the government has never closed its doors to continuous dialogue for the amicable resolution of all outstanding claims and differences.
This is a direct appeal to aggrieved property owners who are in court to return to the path of dialogue with the government, considering the national and economic importance of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway Project.
• Osikhekha, Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Lagos