In a heartfelt plea, a widow shared her story at a meeting with the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi. In a video that was shared by Channels Television, this meeting was meant for residents whose properties are being marked for demolition to make way for the new Coastal Highway project. Her statement reflected the emotional and financial struggles faced by many families affected by this construction.
She explained that her late husband’s hard work had gone into three estates on the affected land. The first estate was already taken down, and although compensation was given to her husband’s business partner, she was left with little to nothing. Now, the second estate has also been marked for demolition, despite the fact that her family had proper legal titles and permissions (Certificates of Occupancy) for their properties.
To add to her distress, the widow mentioned that some people had encroached on land along the highway route, but authorities targeted her family’s lawful estates instead of the violators. The third and last estate she has with her children was also supposed to be partially saved, but her appeals were ignored. In a desperate compromise, she requested just 3 acres of her husband’s legacy, but was met with refusal.
“All my husband worked for has gone,” she said, highlighting the pain that comes when a family’s lifelong efforts are wiped away without sufficient recourse.