6th April, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun
Real estate developer, Paul Onwuanibe, on Saturday said he is in talks with the Federal and the Lagos State Government to avoid planned demolition of his Landmark Beach Resort for the construction of the 700km Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.
The Lagos State Government had recently written and given the Landmark Group CEO seven-day notice of the demolition of the section of the Beach Resort to make way for the coastal highway.
The Lagos State Government listed parts of the property that will be demolished to make way for the road to include the Beach Resort, Kids and Bay Arena, Members Area, and Lagos Beach Club.
The Lagos State Government said the areas where the facilities are located fall within the Right of Way of the proposed Coastal Highway project by 50 metres.
But amidst concerns and controversies over the planned demolotion, Onwuanibe said on his X handle on Saturday that his management is in talks with the agencies of federal and state government to avert the demolotion of the Resort for the road project.
He added that one of the options being considered is the rerouting the first 1.5 km out of the 700km stretch of the Road to its original location along the undeveloped Water Corporation Road median.
“We believe that with careful collaboration and consultation, a small number of other minor reroutes may be required to sustain the existing socioeconomic activity along the course of this Road,” he said.
“I believe the Coastal Road is a commendable project by the government which will significantly boost the economy, and engaged consultations (as are ongoing) will help determine ways of developing the Road while preserving the Landmark Group ecosystem businesses that are remitting billions of Naira in taxes annually while employing thousands of Nigerians.
“These over 80 diverse businesses (over half of which are SMEs) operate from a world class integrated location along the Water Corporation Road and in synergy, provide a variety of corporate, leisure, hospitality and tourism services to the over 3 million local and international visitors who come our ecosystem yearly. We are in conjunction spotlighting Lagos as a viable tourism destination on the global stage and our location is arguably the most visited waterfront destination on the West African coast: OWNED BY NIGERIANS, FOR NIGERIANS, AND IN NIGERIA.
“I take due note of the concerns of our over 3m ecosystem visitors and customers and I’m confident that a solution which sees to the development of the Road while preserving a proudly Nigerian business can be achieved,” Onwuanibe said.
Read part of his statement below
I wish to confirm that we are in active talks with various arms of the federal and state government including the Lagos State Government, the Federal and State Ministries of Tourism, and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing as well as several interest groups and have received firm assurances that there will be no disruptions to business while we work to agree win-win solutions including rerouting the first 1.5 km out of the 700km stretch of the Road to its original location along the undeveloped Water Corporation Road median. We believe that with careful collaboration and consultation, a small number of other minor reroutes may be required to sustain the existing socioeconomic activity along the course of this Road.
I believe the Coastal Road is a commendable project by the government which will significantly boost the economy, and engaged consultations (as are ongoing) will help determine ways of developing the Road while preserving the Landmark Group ecosystem businesses that are remitting billions of Naira in taxes annually while employing thousands of Nigerians. These over 80 diverse businesses (over half of which are SMEs) operate from a worldclass integrated location along the Water Corporation Road and in synergy, provide a variety of corporate, leisure, hospitality and tourism services to the over 3 million local and international visitors who come our ecosystem yearly. We are in conjunction spotlighting Lagos as a viable tourism destination on the global stage and our location is arguably the most visited waterfront destination on the West African coast: OWNED BY NIGERIANS, FOR NIGERIANS, AND IN NIGERIA.
The Landmark Group began its corporate life in Europe in 1998 but pivoted to Africa in 2003 with debut operations in Lagos, Nigeria. We have invested over US$100 million in the last 20 years in this economy because of our deep faith in the possibilities of this country and have consistently proven that Nigerians working together, irrespective of tribe or creed, are capable of delivering worldclass leisure, hospitality and tourism service to millions of Nigerians, the diaspora and foreigners alike.
Our success story would not have been possible without some government support and particularly that of the Lagos State Government. I take due note of the concerns of our over 3m ecosystem visitors and customers and I’m confident that a solution which sees to the development of the Road while preserving a proudly Nigerian business can be achieved.
Thank You all for your support.