Minister of Works, David Umahi, has said the presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, is inciting people of the South-East, especially the uninformed, against the Federal Government.
Umahi stated this during an event organised by the Federal Ministry of Works to compensate property owners affected by the controversial Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.
The minister added that Obi failed to advocate for the people even after leading them into difficulties. The 700-kilometre coastal highway project, estimated to cost the Federal Government N15 trillion, has attracted public outcry over the demolition of the Landmark Beach Resort valued at $200 million to pave the way for the road.
Following the demolition, the Group CEO of Landmark, Paul Onwuanibe, expressed concern over the development, saying the demolition would impact on businesses, livelihoods, and employment.
Obi had criticised President Bola Tinubu’s administration over the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project. He emphasised the need to prioritise national security, poverty alleviation, healthcare, and education over controversial infrastructure projects.
But, Umahi defended the government’s actions, dismissing claims of inhumanity towards Landmark. The minister accused Obi of spreading misinformation that incites the uninformed population.
Umahi urged people to exercise wisdom and avoid judgmental statements that could lead to trouble, adding that he had been personally involved in addressing the project’s concerns.
Umahi announced that the Federal Government would pay N2.75 billion in compensation to property owners affected by the demolition as a result of the road construction.
He disclosed this during a stakeholder meeting held in Lagos, yesterday, stating that the highway was projected to stretch from channel 0 to channel 3.
According to him, more compensation is expected to be paid in the coming days. He said: “Today, we are paying over N2 billion in compensation from Channel 0 to Channel 3.
“So, I will invite the controller Lagos to stamp and sign and with this, the contractors can now go ahead confidently within the right of ways and then will also give a copy to the numerators to go ahead. We have rerouted several places.
“I wish to flag off the compensation from channel 0 to channel 3 in the total sum of N2.75 billion,” Umahi said.
The minister, however, said “Landmark (a recreational resort billed for demolition) was simply playing politics with politicians,” adding that “there is nothing to claim.”
The minister made the statement while clarifying that none of Landmark’s infrastructure was impacted by the coastal development, acknowledging that though Landmark may have sublet the area along its shoreline to some individuals, it never had ownership of the shoreline and the individuals that the shoreline was sublet to were there illegally.
Umahi even challenged Landmark to provide documentation giving him ownership of the shoreline around Landmark. He said: “I’ve asked him to bring his documents and I challenge him and his co-politicians to bring the documents. Let him flash the documents before the press.”
