Payment Of Compensation For Lagos-Calabar Highway Begins

The federal government has paid N1 billion compensation to residents of Cross River State affected by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

The payment covers 700-1,000 people from 12 communities in Akamkpa and Odukpani local government areas.

The federal controller of Works, Yinka Onafuye, announced this during an inspection visit with minister of Works, David Umahi.

“Farmlands and buildings have been valued, and beneficiaries are receiving payments through banks,” Onafuye said.

“Between 700 and 1000 people from 12 communities in Akamkpa and Odukpani Local Government Areas have benefited so far.

“The Federal Government has paid compensation amounting to one billion naira to affected persons”, he added.

“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will feature relief stations, solar-powered lighting, and CCTV cameras for enhanced safety and emergency response under 10 minutes,” Umahi added.

Also speaking, managing director of  HITECH Africa Construction Company, Dany Aboud, assured that the company would deploy additional manpower and resources to complete the job within the 36-month period.

In their remarks, chairman Senate Committee on Works,  Senator Mpigi Barinada and the  lawmaker representing Abi/ Yakurr federal constituency  Dr. Alex Egbona, praised the project’s progress, citing its potential to stimulate development in the state.

The duo stated that the scale and cost of the project are justified given the quality of construction and extensive earthworks required due to the swampy terrain.

Earlier in Awi community, Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State, the minister of  Works, David Umahi, announced that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway will feature relief stations, solar-powered lighting and CCTV cameras to enhance safety and ensure rapid emergency response times of under ten minutes.

“The highway will include essential facilities at strategic points to improve travel safety and support security agencies,”  Umahi stated.

He stressed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to completing the highway—a vision he began nurturing over 27 years ago as Lagos State Governor.