The lagos state government is set to demolish a portion of the popular Landmark Beach Resort to give way for the coastal highway construction of Lagos-Calabar road project.
This was contained in a letter to the business mogul Paul Onwuanibe dated March 19, 2024, and signed by the Deputy Director (Development Matters Department) Tpl Shomolu O., on behalf of the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
According to the letter, the state government noted that the sections of the property billed for demolition such as the Beach Resort, Kids and Bay Arena, Members Area, Lagos Beach Club fall within the Right of Way of the proposed road project by 50 meters.
Onwuanibe, receiving seven day’s notice of removal of property felt it was an April fool that had come early.
The beach resort which is valued at over $200 million, according to Onwuanibe, the Landmark site is home to over 80 businesses and provides more than 4,000 direct jobs.
It also generates over 2 billion naira ($1.5 million) in annual tax revenue.
Recall that the Lagos state government had written the company in two different national newspaper on the demolition .
“Following the publications of Friday 15th and Saturday 16th March, 2024, in the two national newspapers, The Nation and The PUNCH respectively, for the constriction of 103km stretch of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway by the Federal Ministry of Works, in collaboration with Lagos State Government, I am to inform you that your property falls within the Right of Way Alignment of the project by 50 meters.
“Consequently, the affected portion shall be removed in overriding public interest, to pave way for the road construction project from seven (7) days of serving this notice.
“In view of the above, I am to request you to forward all documents supporting your ownership of the property to the Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Block 13 and 14, The Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja.’’