LASG To Demolish $200 Million Landmark Beach Resort

The Lagos State Government plans to demolish a section of the well-known Landmark Beach Resort for the purpose of building the Lagos-Calabar road project’s coastal route,

On behalf of the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, this was stated in a letter dated March 19, 2024, addressed to Paul Onwuanibe, the owner of Landmark Beach Resort, and signed by Tpl. Shomolu O., the deputy director (development matters department).

Authorities from Lagos state gave Onwuanibe a notice in writing that his multimillion-dollar beach resort would be demolished and that he had seven days to vacate it.

The government, according to Onwuanibe, 58, demanded that his Landmark Beach resort, which attracted a million tourists from both domestic and foreign countries last year, be taken down because it “falls within the right of way” of a 700-kilometer (435-mile) coastal highway that was intended to connect the former capital city to Calabar, a port city close to the Cameroonian border.

Onwuanibe told CNN that he had purchased the land in 2007 before the designs for the coastal route were finalised. He also stated that he experienced conflicting feelings upon receiving the demolition order and was advised to pursue claims for compensation.

“One was amazement, second was concern and the third one was, ‘is this real or is this an April Fools’ (Day prank in) advance?’” Onwuanibe said.

According to Onwuanibe, the beach resort, worth more than $200 million, is home to over 80 enterprises and employs over 4,000 people directly.

It also generates more than 2 billion naira ($1.5 million) in annual tax money. Recall that the Lagos state government wrote to the corporation about the demolition in two separate national newspapers.

See a copy of the letter below.