When the authorities of Lagos state informed Nigerian business magnate Paul Onwuanibe in late March that he had seven days to vacate his multimillion-dollar beach resort for its demolition, he initially thought it was an early April Fools’ Day prank.
According to a government letter, his Landmark Beach resort, a popular destination that attracted about a million visitors last year, needed to be removed as it encroached on the planned route of a 700-kilometer coastal highway linking the former capital city to Calabar.
Onwuanibe acquired the land in 2007, unaware of the highway plans, and was surprised and concerned by the order, which also advised him to file compensation claims.
Onwuanibe, 58, heads Landmark Group, a real estate developer and major player in Nigeria’s tourism and hospitality sectors.
The group’s leisure beach, rated among Nigeria’s top seven beaches in 2023 by Lonely Planet, is part of the 13-hectare Landmark site on Lagos’s Victoria Island.
The beach resort and other parts of the Landmark site along the coastal right of way are slated for demolition, according to a government notice.
The Landmark site, valued at over $200 million, hosts over 80 businesses, provides over 4,000 jobs, and generates more than $1.5 million in annual tax revenue.
The federal government approved the coastal road project on February 27, aiming to create a world-class highway like the Wild Atlantic Highway in Ireland and the Pacific Coastal Highway in the United States. The first section of the $841 million-plus highway will be built in Victoria Island, spanning nine coastal states with five lanes on each side and a train track in the middle, along with spurs connecting to northern Nigeria.
While the project is expected to boost the economy, environmentalists warn of significant environmental impacts, including the destruction of wetlands and habitats due to activities like sand filling and dredging.
Onwuanibe praised the project's potential but expressed concerns about its impact on tourism and foreign investment if Landmark Beach is demolished.
He highlighted the millions of dollars already invested in developing the resort and the threat to local and foreign investors.
He urged thorough environmental and social impact assessments before demolition and suggested alternative routes with fewer ecological and economic consequences.
Onwuanibe emphasized the need for consultations with affected businesses and homes, hoping for a "win-win solution" with the government.