The federal government on Thursday inaugurated the committee expected to review, evaluate and compensate landowners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Expressway.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, inaugurated the committee in Abuja and said the goal was to ensure transparency in all undertakings.

“The gesture is in line with the renewed hope agenda of the administration of President Bola Tinubu, which is transparency.

“The committee is tasked with interacting with the property owners to be affected and to look at possible compensations to be paid. Where it is possible, the committee should visit the sites,” he said.

He said the ministry would apply federal government rates for compensation.

“I know very well that there is nobody that you ever compensate that is ever satisfied with how much is to be paid.

“However, we are bound by the law, so we are using the federal rate, which is a lot higher than the Lagos rate, to pay compensation.

“We adopted the federal government rate since we are the ones paying,” he said.

Mr Umahi said that in addition to verifying those to be paid, the committee would also verify the dimensions and, where possible, the amount.

He said that after the verification, the property owners would sign, and the contractor would be directed to pay the specified amount.

The minister, however, said that where there is a title problem, a presidential waiver would be needed before such people would be paid.

“So, only those with proven titles will be paid as they are brought to us in the ministry, although we shall carry out our checks.

“We have to make it very clear that 250 metres of the road legally belongs to the federal government.

“So, if you have a title within these 250 metres and it is not a title from the federal government, only the president will give a waiver if he so feels, for payment,” he said.

Mr Umahi said that the ministry would try not to delay the files to shorten the process and assured property owners that the necessary work would be done within 72 hours.

“The contractor will pay directly to all those who are affected. We are committed to doing this, so the verification will start by Wednesday at the latest in Lagos,” he announced.

Mr Umahi said the committee members were drawn across the board from the ministry, Lagos State, and affected communities.

(NAN)