The proprietor of a destroyed beach declares support for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

Millions of people would profit from the project, according to Bolaji Ariyo, the chief executive officer of Mami Chula Beach and one of the impacted property owners in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway construction.

Last week, David Umahi, the Minister of Works, said that the Federal Government would compensate property owners impacted by the demolition required for the building of channel 0 to channel 3 with N2.75 billion.

At a stakeholders conference in Lagos State, he disclosed this information, urging all parties to desist from politicizing the project and identifying Ariyo, a Yoruba guy, as the biggest affected property owner.

In a widely disseminated video interview, Ariyo stated that he agreed with the project’s vision “even if it causes inconvenience for a small number of people.”

“I understand when a government is promising to make life easy for the entire Nigerians,” he remarked.

“Some of us are affected, no doubt about it, but those affected are not up to 0.1 per cent of the millions that will enjoy the coastal roads.”

In order for the idea to succeed, he also pleaded with the populace to support the president and the minister. “That’s why people like me have taken it to heart to also support Mr President and the honourable minister to ensure that this road comes to life,” Ariyo continued.

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The minister told reporters on Saturday that only shanties built on the government’s right-of-way were impacted and that no buildings owned by the Landmark beach resort were destroyed.

Mami Chula Beach

“Landmark has unfortunately made so much noise about this. I have revisited the place, and I can say none of his infrastructure is affected.

“Just the shanties are affected and they are bulldozed already. We are passing our coastal bridge within the right of way of the Federal Government.

“I have directed that the beach should be shut down for tomorrow and there is no beach. The place is owned by people who are sand filling it, and at the end of the day, there is no more beach.

“Those who are playing politics with it can go ahead. My job is simple: to pass the coastal road. It’s in a right-of-way within the coastal corridor which is the legitimate right-of-way of the federal government.”

Workers at Landmark have organized a protest against the beach’s sand filling for road construction.

Landmark Africa, the parent business of the beach, responded to the exercise with a post on X that said, “What we built in six years was destroyed in six hours,” presumably referring to their $200 million investment that was destroyed. But they did pledge to be back.