As demolition exercise in the right of way of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway began on Monday, a part of a popular beach resort, Landmark Beach on Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday was demolished drawing outrage from the owners of the beach.
In a post of their X platform, Landmark Africa, the parent company lamented that an investment of over $200m that took six years to build was pulled down in just six hours.
“What a journey! What we built in 6 years was destroyed in 6 hours. We are overwhelmed at the show of support we have received from Landmark Citizens and all our partners. Thank you for standing with us and believing in our mission and cause so far. This is not the end!” they wrote.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, while defending the demolition noted that the move was necessary considering the landmark centre was located on the Federal Government’s Right-of-Way.
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The minister had earlier assured that with the design of the coastal highway project, only 50 metres of the shoreline and a few shanties will be removed while “permanent structures” will be left intact.
Images from the demolition showed that structures erected along the coastline including cabanas, football turf, and many others were pulled down. Breeze Beach Club, located at the centre was also pulled down.
Recall that Landmark owner, Paul Onwuanibe, had earlier pleaded that the government return the construction of the coastal road to the original alignment before it was moved to the path of the beachfront.
Read Also: FG begins demolition of Landmark Beach for Lagos-Calabar highway project
He said the original plan will not only save businesses that will be destroyed as a result of the revised plan, but also save money and manpower for the government.
“The original alignment of the coastal road was Water Corporation Road. I mean, you had the picture on your screen, and it showed quite clearly the Water Corporation Road, the two feeder lanes, and then the medium that was meant to house it.
“Then there’s Landmark, and there’s the beach, and there’s the sea. The alignment was changed from Water Corporation Road… so instead of it running on the land side of Landmark, it’s going to run on the beach side of Landmark,” he told Arise TV.
