In a move that threatens to disrupt Nigeria’s hospitality industry, the Federal Government of Nigeria, through Lagos State has issued a demolition notice for Landmark Beach Resort, a $200 million property that accommodates over 80 businesses and provides more than 4,000 direct jobs.
The notice, which gives the resort seven days to vacate, is part of the government’s plan to construct a 700-kilometer coastal road intended to connect Lagos with Calabar.
The Landmark Beach Resort, a top-tier tourism spot in Nigeria, received approximately one million local and foreign visitors in 2023. The proposed demolition has left both international and domestic investors in the Landmark Group considering withdrawing their investments, potentially causing widespread panic and damaging the entire ecosystem.
The Lagos State Government has begun demolishing structures infringing on the designated right of way for the Lagos-Calabar Highway Project, with Landmark Beach Resort being one of the affected establishments. However, the resort’s management is in talks with federal and state governments and interest groups to adjust the initial 1.5 km segment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, proposing to redirect it along the undeveloped median of Water Corporation Road to avoid disrupting the resort’s business.
Paul Onwuanibe, CEO of Landmark Africa Group, expressed optimism about the ongoing consultations, believing that they will find ways to develop the road while preserving the Landmark Group’s ecosystem. The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project promises economic benefits, but it also presents significant environmental challenges, raising concerns among environmentalists.”
