Minister of Works, Dave Umahi has said the Group Chief Executive Officer and founder of The Landmark Group, Paul Onwuanibe, cannot claim compensation from the Federal Government in connection with the demolition of structures for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The Federal Government is currently demolishing properties along the shoreline to create a pathway for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The Landmark Group, owners of the Landmark beach in Lagos State, is believed to be one of the organisations that will be highly affected by the demolition.

However, Umahi has insisted that infrastructures belonging to Landmark were spared, hence the owner can’t make claims on the Federal Government.

Addressing journalists, the minister said the beach was on the right of way and shoreline.

He said: “No claim for Landmark, we spared all his infrastructure, we don’t pay for the demolition of shanties because it is on our right-of-way, 15 meters from the shoreline, so he has no claim.

“We made all efforts to spare his infrastructure. The Landmark owner is acting like a politician, me I’m an engineer.

“While he does all the politics, I am an engineer, I’ll do the engineering work. I don’t know the attention he is seeking.”

The Federal Government has assured workers that the new minimum wage will take effect from today, May 1, 2024, despite ongoing negotiations within the tripartite committee on national minimum wage.

Addressing Nigerian workers during the May Day celebration in Abuja, Minister of State Labour Nkeiruka Onyejeocha emphasised that although the conclusion of the negotiations is pending, efforts are underway to expedite the process and ensure the timely release of the new minimum wage.

Expressing regret over the delay in finalising the new national minimum wage, Onyejeocha reassured workers that comprehensive consultations are ongoing to facilitate the prompt formulation of the required document.

Both the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have consistently urged President Bola Tinubu’s administration to accelerate the upward adjustment of wage structures.

Recently, Organised Labour has advocated for a new minimum wage of N615,000, citing workers’ need to contend with the prevailing economic challenges and the high cost of living in Nigeria.

The labour unions said the current minimum wage of N30,000 can no longer cater for the wellbeing of an average Nigerian worker, lamenting that not all governors are paying the current wage award which expired in April, five years after the Minimum Wage Act of 2019 was signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Act is to be reviewed every five years to meet up with contemporary economic demands of workers.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has disclosed that the Federal Government will, on Wednesday (today), pay N2.75 billion in compensation to property owners affected by the demolition necessary for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway spanning from channel 0 to channel 3.

He revealed this information during a stakeholders meeting held in Lagos State on Wednesday.

He said, “To show sympathy for people who voted for Mr President, we would do everything possible to pay the human face compensation.

“Today, we are paying over N2bn in compensation just from channel 0 to channel 3.”

Umahi noted that the compensation being done was a flag-off for 10 people, directing that the rest of those to be compensated should go to the Secretariat of the Compensation Committee for payment.

He added, “All tenants within the Landmark premises, today, have all been shortlisted and they will get the alerts by 2:00 pm.

“Most of them are here and that closes the politics of Landmark.

The minister directed the remaining uncompensated property owners to the compensation committee

“All the people should meet with the committee.

“The committee will be sitting from 2:00 pm so that you will sign your documents in the form of indemnity and you will get your alert tomorrow before 2:00 pm.”

The first phase of the compensation flag-off included 10 property owners, which were: Olaotan Olamuyiwa of Checkmate; Kemi Osinibi of Landmark Kids Club by Maxtivity; Mide Adegbite, Peter Oladipupo of FX Lounge; Bukola Oloko, Abiodun Oguntunde of Xchange Lagos; Dapo Oniru of Moist Beach; Mustapha Olatunji of G12 Beach; Dr Bashir Oshodi, and Bestrock.

The Federal Controller of Works for Lagos State, Olukorede Kesha, noted that the aforementioned property owners were the first ten to be compensated, adding that subsequently, other compensations would ensue.

Speaking to one of the compensated property owners on the amount given, who spoke under anonymity, she disclosed that they had signed a document that required them not to speak on the issue.

In March, the Federal Government started constructing the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to extend through 9 states with two spurs leading to the Northern States.

Umahi revealed that the road would be built using concrete pavement.

In the following month, the government established a committee tasked with the responsibilities of reviewing, assessing and compensating landowners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Expressway.

Umahi said that the committee, comprising members drawn from the ministry, Lagos State, affected communities, and other stakeholders, had primary responsibilities that included verifying the eligibility of claimants, assessing the dimensions of affected properties, and determining the appropriate compensation amounts.