As the Federal Government prepares to commence construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, property owners along the corridor are seeking consultation with the government to address the anticipated impact of the 700-kilometre road project.
During his recent tour of federal projects in the Lagos zone, Minister of Works David Umahi announced that a contract for the project has been awarded to Hitech Construction Company.
The project, slated for completion in five years, is expected to necessitate the acquisition of land, potentially affecting numerous residential and commercial properties to create the necessary right-of-way.
One such affected property owner is the Landmark Africa Group, proprietors and developers of Landmark Lagos, also known as Landmark Village, an ecosystem housing over 80 businesses offering tourism, leisure, and hospitality services.
“The construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road is a commendable project that will connect vital regions of the country, bolster the economy, particularly the tourism industry, and enhance employment,” remarked Paul Onwuanibe, CEO of the Landmark Group.
However, Onwuanibe expressed concerns that the current road construction plan could lead to the destruction of the Landmark Group and its over 80 businesses, resulting in the collapse of a major player in the hospitality and tourism sector, widespread unemployment, and loss of taxpayer revenue, among other socio-economic repercussions.
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He emphasized the need for extensive consultations with stakeholders to devise alternative win-win solutions for the road’s development while preserving existing businesses and their socio-economic value, calling for support from the federal, state, and local governments in this regard.
Onwuanibe recalled that Landmark acquired beachfront real estate along the Water Corporation Road in 2007, and the original construction plan for the Coastal Road, as part of the West Africa Coastal Highway, was to traverse the Water Corporation Road median, which remains undeveloped to date.
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“The Landmark Group now seeks the government’s intervention to reroute just about 1.5km out of the 700km stretch of the road to its original location on the Water Corporation Road median,” he stated.
He highlighted that the Landmark Village ecosystem welcomed over three million visitors in 2023, a significant number of whom were from the diaspora or foreigners, who visited to enjoy the premier leisure and tourism destination along the West African coastline.
The property owners are advocating for dialogue with the government to explore alternative solutions that would accommodate the road project’s development while minimizing the impact on existing businesses and the local economy.