Property owners along the Lagos-Calabar Highway are rejecting compensation offers from the Federal Government, calling them inadequate compared to their properties’ true value. Many affected owners have voiced frustration over the low payouts following demolitions for the coastal highway project.

Retired banker Emeka Mewu, who invested over N400 million in his land and buildings, was offered just N3.3 million. He described the offer as “a meager sum,” adding that the land alone cost him two other properties he sold to fund the purchase. Another property owner, Paul Osemele, said he was offered N42 million against a valuation of nearly N1 billion for his multi-unit property. “They demolished a twin duplex and apartments generating N36 million annually,” said Sola Enitan, head of a coalition representing owners seeking fair compensation.

Several owners report compensation offers as low as three percent of their properties’ assessed values. One anonymous owner with a N630 million property was offered only N18 million, while others, like Cajetan Onu from Total Energies Staff Cooperative Society, described their offers as insufficient for the investments made. Leisure Games founder Olanrewaju Ojo received N1.3 million, saying, “I make this amount in a week.”

Minister of Works David Umahi acknowledged the rising compensation budget, which increased from N8 billion to N18 billion for the project’s first section. Umahi stated that 50 percent of payments have been disbursed and promised full compensation within ten days. However, property owners remain skeptical, with some taking legal steps and appealing to the National Assembly to secure fair valuations and payouts.

The project, which aims to connect Lagos to Calabar, has sparked debate over the balance between infrastructure development and fair compensation for displaced property owners.