The Federal Government’s plan to demolish buildings within a 15-metre setback of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to build service lanes could affect between 700 and 1,700 houses, according to government estimates, sparking anxiety among property owners along the corridor.
Minister of Works David Umahi said a conservative estimate puts at least 700 houses on the right-of-way, with another 1,700 within the setback. Umahi said affected owners would be compensated according to law.
The announcement has raised questions over whether service lanes were part of the highway’s original design or added after construction began, with built-environment experts warning that late-stage changes raise costs and disrupt communities.
The 700km highway, running from Lagos to Calabar, began construction in 2024 under an estimated $11-12 billion budget. The government and Lagos State deny that the project caused recent flooding in Lagos, blaming blocked drainage and refuse dumping, while confirming that additional drainage works and service lanes are planned to address the problem.
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