Property owners along the Lagos-Calabar Highway have expressed their dissatisfaction with the Federal Government’s compensation offers, which they argue are far below the true value of their properties.
Many owners have rejected the proposed amounts, stating that they are inadequate considering the size, development, and investment in their properties.
In an exclusive interview with The PUNCH, Emeka Mewu, a retired banker, shared his frustration over the compensation he received for his property.
Mewu’s land, along with four bungalows, was valued at over N400 million, yet the government offered him only N3.3 million.
He explained, “My property was valued at over N400 million, including the land and developments. I had to sell two other properties in different locations on the mainland just to acquire this one, which is of significant value.”
He also noted that the Lagos State Government had not prohibited development on the land, and the area had not been gazetted for road construction.
Similarly, Paul Osemele, another affected property owner, also rejected his compensation offer of N42 million. His property, which was valued at nearly N1 billion, included a twin duplex of five bedrooms, which was converted into 16 apartments with a penthouse and additional two-bedroom flats behind.
He remarked, “I was offered N42 million, but my property was valued at nearly N978 million. Why would I accept such a small fraction of its worth?”
Osemele, along with others in a similar situation, continues to fight for better compensation.
The head of the coalition group advocating for fair compensation, Sola Enitan, emphasized the scale of the injustice.
He pointed out that Osemele’s properties generated significant annual revenue, stating, “Osemele made N36 million annually from these properties before they were demolished.” Enitan also criticized the government’s claims about the budget for the road project, noting that it would cost far less than the N15 trillion the government was stating. He added, “Such a project should only require N2-3 trillion for compensation, according to global best practices.”
One anonymous property owner who is part of the ongoing battle shared his experience, revealing that the offer from the Ministry of Works was an insulting 3% of his property’s assessed value.
“The compensation they offered was ridiculous. It was only about 3% of my property’s assessed value,” he said.
He owns a one-story building with four bedrooms on two plots of land measuring over 1,700 square meters, valued at N630 million.
However, the government offered him only N18 million, an amount he has refused to accept. Seeking justice, he is working with his lawyers and considering going to court if necessary, though he hopes the National Assembly’s ongoing hearings will bring a fair resolution.
The President of Total Energies Staff Cooperative Society, Cajetan Onu, also voiced concerns over the fairness of the compensation.
His society’s clubhouse, which took four years to develop and was just commissioned this year, was now threatened by the highway construction. Onu appealed for more time to recover their equipment and more adequate compensation.
He stated, “We are not opposed to the project; what we ask is more time to recover the equipment we can, and a more realistic compensation that reflects the level of investment we made.”
The founder of Leisure Games, Olanrewaju Ojo, received just N1.3 million as compensation, which he said was laughable.
“This is ridiculous! I could make this amount in a week!” he exclaimed, highlighting the stark contrast between the compensation and the real value of his property.
Another anonymous business owner on Good Beach shared his frustration, revealing that the compensation offered to him was just a fraction of what he had invested in his business.
“The compensation was about one-sixth of what we submitted. It doesn’t even cover what we invested in the business,” he said, unsure of whether to accept or reject the offer.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, had earlier addressed the issue, revealing that the budget for compensation for section 1 of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway had been increased from N8 billion to N18 billion.
He assured that all property owners listed for compensation in section 1 would receive full payment within ten days.
Umahi stated, “There is a legal basis for this, and we’ve consulted experts to ensure fairness. Fifty percent of the compensation has already been paid, and I have instructed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olukorede Keisha, to ensure that no further approvals are needed. We will prioritize the interests of those affected and complete 100% of the payments within the next ten days as recorded by our enumerators.”
Despite these assurances, the affected property owners remain skeptical and continue to push for compensation that truly reflects the value of their properties and investments.
