N18bn will be paid as compensation for Lagos-Calabar coastal road project-Umahi

The federal government has announced plans to pay approximately N18 billion in compensation to property owners affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway.

This figure represents an increase from the initial N8 billion earmarked for the project’s first phase, ensuring fair compensation for affected citizens.

Speaking in Lagos on Sunday, November 3, at a stakeholder engagement event, Minister of Works Dave Umahi disclosed that the new amount, applicable to phase one’s section one, reflects the government’s commitment to fair restitution. He also confirmed that half of the compensation has already been disbursed, with payments assessed and verified by independent experts. Umahi assured attendees that the remaining compensation will be completed within 10 days.

Akin Alabi, chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, praised the ministry for its transparency and efforts to engage stakeholders. He also stressed the importance of publicly documenting compensation details to prevent misinformation and foster accountability.

“There are mischief makers out there, but by the time we start to publish these things, some people will have to keep quiet,” Alabi noted, underlining the government’s dedication to clarity and fairness in the process.

Following the outrage that trailed the arrest and arraignment of minors over the #EndBadGovernance protests held in several parts of the country in August, President Bola Tinubu on Monday directed the immediate release of all the children.

Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, disclosed this to State House correspondents on Monday after the President swore in seven newly appointed ministers cleared by the Senate.

The minister said the President ordered the immediate release of the minors without prejudice to whatever legal processes that are ongoing.

The President also directed the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to immediately see to the welfare of those minors, and also take part to ensure their smooth reunion with their parents or guardians wherever they are in the country.

Tinubu also directed that a committee would be set up to be spearheaded by the humanitarian affairs ministry to look at all issues surrounding the arrest, detention, treatment, and finally, the release of the minors.

On Friday, November 1, 2024, Nigerians were enraged and disgusted when the government brought 72 minors before a Federal High Court in Abuja over their participation in the nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.

The defendants, who were accused of treason, among others, were arrested in places like Kaduna, Abuja, Gombe, Jos, Katsina, and Kano states. Some of them looked gaunt and poorly fed and collapsed in court.

The presiding judge, Obiora Egwuatu, granted N10 million bail to 72 minors who were arraigned.

A victory for Donald Trump in this week’s presidential election would force Europe to reconsider its stance on the war in Ukraine, according to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

The leader, who supports the billionaire’s bid for a second term, has consistently opposed the financial and military aid provided to Kyiv since the war began in February 2022.

“Europe cannot bear the burden of [the war] alone, and if Americans switch to peace, then we also need to adapt, and this is what we will discuss in Budapest,” he said according to Reuters.

Viktor Orbán believes that Donald Trump can win a second term and would be able to negotiate peace between the two warring nations, arguing that Trump’s strong relationship with Vladimir Putin would make the process easier.

Last week, the Hungarian minister shared on social media that he had called the Republican candidate to wish him “the best of luck” as the election is taking place this Tuesday.