Coastal highway: What we built in six years was demolished in six hours – Landmark

A part of Landmark Beach on Victoria Island, Lagos on Monday
was demolished to give way to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Nigeria’s
biggest public infrastructure project.

 

This is despite the outcry in some sections about the
potential jobs and means of livelihood that will be lost.

 

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.

 

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.

 

A post on X from Landmark Africa, the parent company of the
beach, in reaction to the exercise, read “What we built in six years was
destroyed in six hours”, alluding to their investment believed to be around
$200m that has been turned to ruins. They, however, promised to be back.

 

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.

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This is not the end! 💪🏽 pic.twitter.com/4nJ8myryrf

— Landmark Africa (@landmarkafrica) April 30, 2024

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.

 

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.