By Lukman Olabiyi
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project may have hit brick wall. This just as it has turned into a source of distress for residents of Okun Ajah, Lagos State, due to unexpected re-routings and realignments.
This shift sparked anxiety over the alleged illegal demolition of properties along the new route, threatening homes, businesses and community heritage.
In a call for justice, residents and landowners appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the contentious realignment of the road project. They alleged that the Federal Ministry of Works encroached on their properties, violating their legal rights under the guise of the road project.
Their spokesperson, Alhaji Abimbola Oshilaja, expressed the community’s frustrations and fears. He disclosed that many residents filed lawsuits against the ministry, Hi-Tech Construction Company and Lagos State Government, seeking to protect their homes and properties: “It is unjust for the ministry to illegally take over our lands, which we legally acquired from the Lagos State Government.”
He condemned what he termed “blatant attempt to forcibly seize properties without proper notice or compensation: He insisted that neither he nor other affected landowners received any notice of revocation for their land titles prior to the ministry’s sudden realignment efforts. This lack of communication directly contravenes Section 28 of the Land Use Act, which mandates that property owners be informed, heard, and compensated before any land can be acquired.”
The community’s grievances could be traced to a 2006 decision under then Governor Tinubu, which granted them rightful ownership through due process: “The Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning confirmed that our land did not fall within the coastal road project’s original alignment. Our legal titles are not only valid but respected for years until the recent disruption.”
Adeyemi Tajudeen, legal counsel for the landowners: “Our clients have enjoyed peaceful possession of their lands until this unexpected realignment. The ministry’s actions seem to cater to powerful individuals who had encroached on the originally designated path.”
Oshilaja lamented: “The residents’ plight has caused widespread anxiety, with over 400 homeowners fearing sudden demolitions. Many of us hold valid titles to our properties, yet we are the ones being targeted for forceful takeover. The situation is an absolute display of coercive power.
“We appeal to Mr. President, a known advocate for the rule of law, to guide the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, towards a fair resolution. It’s not too late for him to do the right thing and revert to the original coastal road alignment.
“As we stand firm in our pursuit of justice, we will continue to call for awareness and support in the struggle to protect our homes, seeking to ensure that our rights are upheld against powerful interests.”