Lagos allays fears of land owners on compensation over 4th mainland bridge construction

Lagos State government on Wednesday allayed the fears of land owners on compensation over the proposed construction of Fourth Mainland Bridge.

The government gave the assurance at the Panel Review Meeting on the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) of the proposed project in Lagos and Ogun states by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure held in Lagos.

Speaking at the stakeholders forum , Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Mrs. Aramide Adeyoye said adequate compensation is in line with international best practice.

Adeyoye, who was represented by the Project Director, Mr Tokunbo Ajanaku said the panel review for the ESIA report on the project is the final review before its approval at ESIA level.

According to him, the meeting with the stakeholders was very fruitful.

“It is a meeting of co-owners and as such you will see the quality of the input from everybody has been topical of the owner for the project.

“This project passes through Lagos and Ogun states so it is a Lagos State initiative for Lagos State and Ogun State driven by his Excellency Mr. Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu and that means all of the corridors within Lagos and those within Ogun State, there is a harmonious and integrated approach to settlement and that is what we will do and each party will be properly compensated where necessary resettle for the approaches is going to be wholistic I think the issue compensation is not the case it is actually a composite plan to make everybody happy,” he said.

In his address, Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdulahi, who was represented by Mr Gomwalk Celestine said: “Despite the laudable benefits associated with the proposed project and considering the biophysical and socio-economic nature of the proposed corridor; the project is envisaged to have significant negative social, economic, health and environmental consequences including resettlement issues for numerous Project Affected Persons (PAPs).

“It is the responsibility of the Federal Government in collaboration with other tiers of government and relevant regulatory authorities to ensure that these negative impacts are adequately identified and effectively mitigated while the attendant positive impacts are realised for project and environmental sustainability.”

He also emphasized that the primary objective of EIA is to ensure adequate protection of the biophysical and socio-economic environment as well as project sustainability.