Lagos-Calabar coast highway: We won’t compensate new structures owners, says FG

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a warning that the Federal government will not pay compensation for the construction of new structures along the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

The Minister, who emphasised that the erecting of new structures with the intention of receiving compensation would be disappointing, requested the cooperation of the people along the routes to enable the government to deliver legacy projects to them. However, no such action was contemplated.

In a statement by Edet Ekpenyong on behalf of the Ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Umahi spoke at the stakeholders’ meeting on Sunday in Calabar, where he also disclosed plans to convene a conference indigenous contractors.

“If you delay the project you will delay the funding, don’t go and build on the road so that you will get compensation, there will be no compensation, the Minister was quoted as saying”.

On the indigenous contractors conference, he said it is aimed at encouraging the patriotic contractors due to the attitude of expatriate contractors is becoming worrisome.

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In her speech, Senator Florence Ita Giwa, who thanked President Tinubu for the appointment of Umahi as the Minister of works, however, appealed to the Minister to ensure the completion of Calabar -Itu and Ugep roads.

The Governor of Cross River State, Prince Bassey Otu who was represented by the deputy governor, Peter Odey said that the state government will give the Federal Ministry of Works maximum cooperation to ensure the completion of the project.

In his remarks, the Senate Minority Whip, Osita Ngwu said that the coastal highway is a testimony that the government cares for the people .

He called on all the stakeholders to support the Minister for the success of the project .