Property owners along the Lagos-Calabar Highway have rejected the Federal Government’s compensation offer, describing it as inadequate compared to the actual value of their properties. In exclusive interviews with *The PUNCH*, several affected individuals, including retired banker Emeka Mewu and businessman Paul Osemele, voiced their dissatisfaction with the compensation amounts, which they argue do not reflect the true worth of their land and developments.
Mewu, for instance, was offered just N3.3 million for property valued at over N400 million. Osemele, whose property was worth nearly N1 billion, received a compensation of only N42 million. Many owners are challenging the offers, claiming they fall far short of global standards for compensation in major infrastructure projects.
Sola Enitan, head of a coalition representing the affected owners, criticized the government’s approach, highlighting that the compensation for properties along the road’s first section had increased from N8 billion to N18 billion but remained insufficient. The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has pledged to complete all compensation payments within 10 days. However, many owners are still seeking fair compensation through legal means.
