Residents of the Okun Ajah community in Lagos State are opposing the proposed diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in a protest held at the Federal Ministry of Works headquarters in Lagos on Thursday.
Hundreds of residents braved heavy rainfall to voice their concerns about what they see as favoritism by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, towards people from the Eastern part of Nigeria.
They believe this diversion benefits those with properties outside the original Coastal Road alignment, which has been planned since 2006.
The residents carried placards with messages like, “Illegal construction on the right of way should not be encouraged,” “Lagos state has a master plan,” and “You promised us renewed hope, don’t punish us.”
Saeed Olukosi, the Akogun of Okun Ajah, criticized the planned diversion, calling it a miscarriage of justice. He said, “The houses built on the Coastal Road alignment were already marked for demolition. But some days ago, construction workers started marking houses in a new area instead.”
He added, “We are shocked that those who built illegally have bribed some workers to avoid demolition, and now they are targeting our legally built houses.”
The residents called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the National Assembly to investigate the planned diversion. “The presidency may not be aware of this illegality, so we are notifying them through this peaceful protest,” Olukosi said. “The minister promised us justice. This administration promised us renewed hope, so he should give us hope and not punish us.”
Their lawyer, Barrister Bolanle Olugbani, echoed these sentiments, saying, “We are protesting the planned diversion from the right way. The Federal Government must adhere to the old gazetted alignment. Everyone knows that a Coastal Road will pass through Okun Ajah, and they complied with the law. The minister is not above the law.”
Mrs. Maimuna Usman-Ologunro, a landlady in Okun Ajah, said, “At the stakeholders’ meeting, the minister said the road would follow the gazetted alignment. Why did his men come back to mark our buildings, which are not on the Coastal Road alignment?”
She added, “We bought our lands legally and have our documents. I cannot lose my property for someone else’s mistakes.”
Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, Federal Comptroller of Works in Lagos, received the protesters and assured them that the minister would address their complaints. She said, “The minister is a listening person. He wanted to meet you last Sunday but postponed due to the Sallah festival. He promised to come back in a week’s time. When he comes, you can tell him what you want, and he will reconsider.”
Kesha emphasized, “Nobody is saying justice must not be done. The minister is committed to hearing your concerns and finding a fair solution.”
