100 Property Owners Launch Fresh Lawsuit Against Lagos-Calabar Highway Demolition

100 Property Owners Launch Fresh Lawsuit Against Lagos-Calabar Highway Demolition....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Over 100 property owners in the Lafiaji community of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, are preparing to take legal action against the Federal Government after receiving demolition notices linked to the Lagos-Calabar Highway project. The property owners disclosed this in a statement during a press conference titled, *“Distortion in the Construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Unlawful Demolition Threats in Lafiaji Community, Eti-Osa LGA, Lagos State……CONTINUE READING 

The residents accuse the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of altering the original route to protect certain high-profile politicians’ interests. They insist they legally acquired their properties, adhering to all necessary procedures and ensuring that they did not encroach on the established Right of Way for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The statement noted, *“In acquiring our plots and developing our homes, we obtained the required consents from the Lagos State Government, followed the approved Ojomu Family Layout Plan, and secured all necessary building approvals. However, some individuals have illegally built on the Right of Way, and rather than addressing these encroachments, the Minister has chosen to alter the route, impacting our legally obtained properties.”*

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is intended to link Lagos with Cross River, passing through several coastal states. The project, estimated to cost N4bn per kilometer, has faced significant public scrutiny since its commencement in March. The controversy intensified after it was revealed that around 750 houses on the highway’s path were marked for demolition, sparking outrage over inadequate compensation offers from the government.

The Lafiaji community claims they wrote to President Bola Tinubu and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu seeking redress, only to be informed later that their properties were still slated for demolition under a new alignment. They allege that the Minister’s actions, including labeling their properties as shanties, are part of an effort to protect more politically connected estates from demolition.

*“We believe the Minister’s decision to alter the route and target our properties is an abuse of power. We urge President Tinubu to intervene and restore the original Right of Way,”* the statement concluded.

The community’s legal representative, Jiti Ogunye, acknowledged the challenges of pursuing legal action due to the congested court system but affirmed their commitment to fight for justice. Despite attempts to reach the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos and the Minister’s media adviser, no responses were received.

Meanwhile, the Federal Ministry of Environment has announced a 21-day public display of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. The report emphasizes the importance of assessing the project’s environmental and social impacts to comply with international standards and Nigerian regulations. The ESIA and a Resettlement Action Plan are being prepared to ensure the project is developed sustainably while minimizing negative impacts on the local community.