Landmark Beach Partially Demolished for Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Despite Public Outcry

The Landmark Beach in Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, is being partially demolished to make way for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, a major infrastructure initiative spanning 700 kilometers and costing an estimated ₦15 trillion. The demolition, ordered by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, is taking place despite public outcry over the potential job and livelihood losses.

Umahi has defended the action, stating that the beach is located on the federal government's right of way. The demolition will affect only structures encroaching on the designated right-of-way, while the primary Landmark Beach Resort buildings will remain intact. Compensation details for affected individuals have yet to be disclosed.

The original plan for the coastal road was to run along the Water Corporation Road, but the alignment was changed to run along the beachfront, leading to the demolition of structures like cabanas, football turf, and the Breeze Beach Club. The Landmark Africa company, which owns the beach, expressed disappointment, stating that what they built in six years was destroyed in six hours, and their investment of around 200 million naira was turned to ruins. However, the company promised to be back.

Why this matters: The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is Nigeria's biggest public infrastructure project, expected to be completed over an eight-year period with each kilometer of road requiring an investment of ₦4 billion. The demolition at Landmark Beach highlights the challenges and controversies that can arise when major development projects impact existing businesses and livelihoods.

Minister Umahi emphasized the necessity of the demolition, as the Landmark center was located on the Federal Government's Right of Way. "The demolition was carried out because the Landmark Event Center was built on the right of way of the highway," Umahi stated. The project aims to improve connectivity along Nigeria's coastline, but the demolition serves as a reminder of the trade-offs and disruptions that can occur in the process of infrastructure development.

Key Takeaways

• Landmark Beach in Lagos, Nigeria, is being partially demolished for Lagos-Calabar highway.
• The demolition is ordered by the Minister of Works, despite public outcry over job losses.
• The highway project spans 700 km and is estimated to cost ₦15 trillion.
• Landmark Africa company's investment of ₦200 million was turned to ruins in 6 hours.
• The demolition highlights challenges in major development projects impacting existing businesses.