Over 100 property owners in the Lafiaji community, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, are preparing to take legal action against the Federal Government after being issued demolition notices as part of the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The residents, who received the notices to vacate their properties, claim that the government is altering the originally planned route to protect the interests of prominent politicians and connected individuals.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the property owners expressed their grievances, accusing the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of diverting from the long-established right of way. The statement, issued during a press conference, outlined the community’s concerns about what they see as an arbitrary deviation from the planned route, which they argue has been altered to avoid demolishing properties belonging to influential individuals.
The property owners insisted that they had adhered to all legal requirements when acquiring and developing their land. They claimed that their properties were built in accordance with the originally established right of way, with all necessary consents, survey plans, building approvals, and development permits obtained from the Lagos State Government.
The statement highlighted the contrast between the community’s lawful compliance and the alleged illegal activities of others who, it claimed, built without valid titles or approvals. “Those who have built on the right of way without any valid legal title or with fabricated certificates of occupancy have been shielded from demolition,” the statement read. “Meanwhile, we, who have complied with all legal requirements, are now facing the threat of losing our homes.”
The residents accused Minister Umahi of directing a new alignment for the highway that would pass through their community, thereby sparing properties belonging to those with political connections. They allege that some estates, such as Ocean Bay Estate, have been protected due to the influence of their owners.
“These estates, allegedly owned by individuals with strong political ties, have been spared because demolishing them would incur significant compensation costs for the Federal Government,” the statement continued. “Instead, the Minister has ordered that the road be rerouted through our legally acquired properties.”
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, intended to enhance connectivity and economic activity along Nigeria’s coast, has been controversial since its inception. The project, spanning 700 kilometres and costing an estimated N4 billion per kilometre, was initially planned to connect Lagos to Cross River State, passing through several coastal states.
Earlier this year, Minister Umahi announced that 750 houses were marked for demolition to pave the way for the highway’s construction. However, residents argue that the compensation offered by the government does not reflect the true value of their properties. One affected property owner, Olanrewaju Ojo, described the N1.3 million compensation he was offered as “ridiculous,” stating that it was equivalent to his weekly income.
The Lafiaji community has made several appeals to President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, urging them to intervene and revert to the original route. Despite assurances from the Federal Government in June that the highway path would be adjusted to avoid damaging subsea cables and the project’s scope would be reduced to six lanes as a cost-saving measure, the residents claim the rerouting continues to threaten their properties.
The community’s legal representative, Jiti Ogunye, has criticised the government’s actions as an abuse of power. “This is an unlawful exercise of ministerial discretion,” Ogunye said. “The Minister does not have the authority to change the route without adhering to due process, especially after the President had directed a return to the original right of way.”
Despite the complexities of Nigeria’s judicial process, Ogunye affirmed the community’s determination to seek redress in court if necessary. “We are prepared to fight this legally,” he said. “We believe that right and morality are on our side, and we will pursue justice through the courts if we have no other choice.”
As tensions rise, the community remains hopeful that the government will reconsider its stance and avoid what they fear could be a significant injustice.
