Paul Onwuanibe, the founder of Landmark Africa Group, recently opened up about the massive impact of the unexpected demolition of Landmark Leisure Beach.
In a conversation on The KK Show via YouTube, Onwuanibe shared the emotional and financial toll of the event, which wiped out more than $30 million in investments and left countless lives affected.
“It hit us like a freight train,” Onwuanibe said. The demolition, which took place with just seven days’ notice, tore down more than just physical structures—it destroyed years of hard work and left a significant dent in their business operations.
“Landmark is made up of three main parts: business, leisure, and lifestyle. What was demolished was our leisure business, a major part of both our revenue and physical infrastructure,” Onwuanibe explained.
The devastation was felt deeply by everyone involved.
“First, you’re shocked. Then, anger takes over. It’s like going through the five stages of grief—shock, anger, bargaining, concern, and finally, acceptance.”
The beach, acquired back in 2006 for $17 million, had been developed with a $30 million loan from abroad, much of which was spent on vital, yet unseen infrastructure like drainage systems and fiber-optic cables. All of that was gone in just a matter of hours.
But the demolition’s impact went beyond just the company’s bottom line.
Onwuanibe revealed that the beach’s closure affected not only their direct employees but also 50 small and medium-sized businesses.
“We had over 1,000 employees directly affected, and thousands more were impacted indirectly. It’s not just about the businesses; it’s about the community,” he said.
The demolition was chaotic for the businesses within the ecosystem.
“Many businesses didn’t even have time to remove their equipment—TVs, fridges, and even furniture were left behind. Some guests were still in the pool when the demolition started. It was truly tragic,” Onwuanibe recalled.
The ripple effect didn’t stop at the businesses. Landmark’s 160,000 members were also affected, and existing contracts had to be renegotiated.
Onwuanibe mentioned, “We had 9.2 billion Naira of members’ money in our accounts. We had over 200 contracts for services like water supply, fumigation, lifeguards, and more. All of that had to be redone.”
Despite all the challenges, Onwuanibe chose resilience over defeat. “At some point, you have to just accept it and move on. You can either lie down and cry or get up and move forward,” he said.
In April 2024, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, ordered the demolition, citing that the beach was on the federal government’s Right-of-way.
While the situation remains difficult, Onwuanibe’s focus is now on rebuilding what was lost and turning this setback into a comeback.
