The Nigerian Federal Government has announced an increase in compensation for property owners affected by the construction of Section 1, Phase 1.
The compensation amount has been raised from the initial N8 billion to N18 billion. This decision was revealed by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, during a stakeholders' meeting held in Lagos.
Minister Umahi emphasized the government's commitment to ensuring fair treatment for those displaced by the project. "The Federal Executive Council initially approved N8 billion for this corridor, but today we are hitting N18 billion, and this is just for section one," he stated.
He further assured that half of the compensation funds have already been disbursed to the affected individuals, with plans to complete the process within the next 10 days.
Despite the increase, some stakeholders, including legal and valuation experts, have expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the compensation remains insufficient and does not meet established standards.
Olusola Enitan, a lawyer and valuation expert, criticized the process, saying, "Someone who had a home is now renting with no ability to replace what was taken from him." He referenced several Supreme Court rulings that support the right to fair compensation.
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