The Federal Government through the Ministry of Works has inaugurated commitee to review report on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment in respect to compensation for the first section of the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The inauguration was made by the honorable Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi at the Ministry’s headquarter in Abuja on Thursday, this is in keeping with established rules on compensation and the ideals of transparency of the Renewed Hope administration of the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The committee consists of 19 members which as follows: as follows: Engr (Mrs) Olukorede Kesha (FCW, Lagos State) Chairman, Rep. of Director, Bridges and Design. Engr Oladele Sola, Rep of Minister of Works, Barrister Joseph Ekumankama.
Engr Olufemi Dare, FMW, Lagos, ESIA Consultant, Dr. Eugene Itua, Rep 1 ESIA, Suv. Popoola Lateef, Rep 2 ESIA, Emmanuel Eneh, Rep. of Oba Oniru. Mr. Yemi Stephen. Rep. of Oba Elegushi, Mrs. Peju Omotayo, Rep. of Oba Ojomu of Ajiran land Hon. Jide Akintoye, Rep of Oba Onibeju of Ibeju, Mr Agbaje Adesegun.
Rep. of Eti Osa Local Government, Adeola Adetoro, Rep. of Ibeju Lekki Local Govt. Hon. Moruf Isah, Olawale Ojikutu (Min of Lands, LASG) Secretary, Rep. Of LASG Surveyor General, Moyosore Faji, Rep. Min of Physical Planning LASG, Kunle Bello, Rep 1 Hitech, Mr. Willie, Rep 2 Hitech, Mr. Ashton, Rep DLS. – Mrs Igboko.
While this committee members is required to interface with stakeholders and property owners that will be affected by the project with a view to recommending those who are entitled to receive compensation from Federal Government as required by law.
In his remarks, the Minister directed that the commitee should work strictly with the terms of reference, which is to verify, authenticate the list of those to be compensated and submit a report within 10 days effective 18th April 2024.
He said, “We are setting up a review committee to look at the work done by the Environmental, Social Impact Assessment (ESIA,) and the works to be reviewed by this committee is very simple, and it’s just to interact with the property owners that are going to be affected.
“And then in their presence, in the presence of the committee and the ESIA Consultant and the contractor, look at the compensation as enumerated to be paid, and where possible, you visit the site.
“We are using the federal rates to do our enumeration. I know very well that there is nobody that is ever enumerated that is ever satisfied with how much is to be paid, but we are bound by the law, and so we are using federal rates.”
The Minister promised to ensure a seemless and timely payment of compensation on the Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway project but warned that only those legally entitled to compensation would be shortlisted.
He said, “The moment the property owner signs, and then we have a form that we give to them to fill, and indicate the bank account; the moment that is done, within 72 hours, we authorize payment. The contractor is going to be paying directly to all those who are affected, and this we are committed to doing.
“This verification will start Wednesday in Lagos, and of course, we have to make it very clear that 250 meters legally belong to the FG. So if you have a title within these 250 meters and it’s not a title from FG then it is encumbrance, and only Mr. President can give a waiver if he feels so for the person to be paid.”
Today’s meeting which was zoomed with the affected property owners and stakeholders, was in furtherance of the resolutions earlier reached in the stakeholders engagement meeting held by the Honourable Minister of Works in Lagos 11th April 2024.