The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has promised that the Landmark Beach Resort properties housing people’s businesses would not be demolished during the construction of the Lagos – Calabar coastal road

He said this during an interview with Arise TV, where he emphasized that no jobs would be lost due to the project, despite the earlier concerns.

The Minister who visited the resort on Wednesday stated that he had a heart-to-heart discussion with the owner of Landmark, Paul Onwuanibe, and he reassured him that the structures within the beach wouldn’t be demolished.

Umahi said, “I was at Landmark yesterday to see what was happening. Despite claims that 12,000 jobs will be lost, I told Landmark that no jobs will be lost by what we’re doing.”

The Minister explained that while the Federal Government holds ownership rights to the shoreline according to the Waterways Act and a recent Supreme Court ruling, the Landmark Beach Resort’s facilities would remain intact as the corridor was reduced by 50 meters.

The assurance comes after the Lagos State Government issued a notice of demolition for the $200 million Landmark Beach Resort, citing obstruction to the proposed route of the coastal road project.

Meanwhile, Paul Onwuanibe, the proprietor of Landmark Beach Resort, expressed his concerns in an interview with CNN.

He said the resort contributes significantly to the local economy and sustains over 4,000 jobs directly. They also generate over N2 billion in taxes annually, which will be lost if the resort is taken down.

Umahi disclosed that the Federal Government commenced construction of the Lagos – Calabar Coastal Highway in March to extend it through nine states with two spurs leading to the Northern States.

This he said during the official handover of the first phase, which includes a 47.47-kilometer dual carriageway, to Hitech Construction Company Ltd.

He also announced that the road would be built using concrete pavement, emphasizing on the progress made by Hitech Construction Company Limited, which has completed 1.3 kilometers of the required filling.