The Federal Ministry of Works has commenced the assessment of properties falling within the Right of Way (RoW) for the proposed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project in collaboration with the Lagos State government.
The project, estimated at N1.06 trillion and spanning 700 kilometers, aims to enhance property development, trade, and commuting time along its route.
The first phase of the project, recently approved by the Federal government, will traverse nine states including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, with two spurs leading to Northern states. The road will feature a 47.47-kilometer dual carriageway with five lanes on each side and a train track in the middle.
Hitech Construction Company Limited has been awarded the construction contract, which includes integration with key roads and bridges like the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, the Fourth Mainland Bridge, the Lekki Deep Sea Port Road, and the Ogoja-Ikom Road. The project is scheduled for completion within 36 months.
Minister for Works, Dave Umahi, highlighted that the project’s use of concrete pavement construction will benefit local cement producers, steel makers, and bitumen explorers. Various construction methods will be employed to safeguard against erosion and environmental concerns within 10 to 12 kilometers from the shorelines.
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The Lagos State government has initiated the removal of illegal structures and shanties along the route to clear the coastal road alignment for the Highway, in preparation for the urban regeneration of the area.
The government urged property owners/occupiers of identified structures to cooperate by relocating them away from the RoW for the successful execution of the project.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluwole Sotire, clarified that the RoW of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road covers the entire 103km stretch within Lagos State, from Ahmadu-Bello Way through several coastal communities to the Lagos-Ogun boundary, Ode-Omi.
The ministry specified, “Any affected owner with compensation claims must submit their documents for records and administrative purposes, such as title documents of property, approved planning permits for the affected building, and any other relevant document in respect of the property.”
An official, speaking anonymously, explained, “At this stage, it is challenging to determine the number of property owners that will be affected. The essence of calling on those with compensation claims and documents is to inform people around the coastal axis before officers’ visit for enumeration to determine the project’s alignment. After this, the number of affected houses will be determined, and any property within the RoW will be affected based on the enumeration.”