Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road: CSO Seeks FG’s Intervention Over Unjust Diversion of Highway Alignment

COALITION OF CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS AGAINST IMPUNITY

The Honourable
Minister of Works
Mabushi , F.C.T.
Abuja.

Sir,
Coalition of Civil Society Organizations against impunity demands urgent intervention over Unjust diversion of coastal highway construction alignment to foreign direct investors FDI’s properties along Okun Ajah located at CHAINAGE 17 and 18 along the corridor.
The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations against impunity is the coming together of tested and trusted rights activists who detests inhuman treatment against humanity.We have watched with keen interest the happenings on the construction of the coastal highway road as it affects lives and businesses of Nigerians home and abroad.
It was a welcome development from residents, landowners and Nigeria at large when the news of the construction of the coastal highway was broken but what is now shocking is when the project commenced without considering the residents, landowners, investors within that corridor of Victoria Island to Eleko extending to Folu for consultation and possible compensations before the commencement of the project. Brute force was deployed against the people who have invested so much on that corridor
While many citizens have been affected by the controversial realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, it is critical to spotlight the alarming treatment of Foreign Direct Investors (FDIs) — particularly those with legitimate properties in Okun Ajah, Lagos.

A glaring example is the WINHOMES Estate, located at Kilometer CHAINAGE 17 and 18 along the corridor.

These are Nigerians in diaspora, patriotic individuals who chose to return with their hard-earned foreign income to invest in real estate that would contribute to national development, create jobs, stimulate local economies, and reduce the Lagos housing deficit.

Rather than being embraced as partners in progress, their properties—worth millions of dollars in Foreign Direct Investment —are being illegally encroached upon and demolished under the directive of the Federal Ministry of Works, citing a road realignment that violates due process and prior gazetted plans as the investors followed due process before embarking on development.

These are some of the lawful procedures followed:
• They acquired the land through clean, legal channels;
• Perfected their Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) and obtained Governor’s Consent;
• Secured Coastal Road Clearance from the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, which confirmed that their properties lay outside the original gazetted corridor of the coastal highway.

What has now occurred is not development—it is dispossession. It is sabotage!

This reckless deviation from planning laws and legal titles undermines the credibility of Nigeria as a destination for foreign investment. It sends a chilling message to others in diaspora and international investors that:

“Your investments are not safe in Nigeria—even when you follow the law.”

Let it be clear:
WINHOMES diaspora investors are not de-marketing Nigeria.
They are victims of a system that refuses to respect its own rules, even as it calls on the world to “come and invest.”

The real threat to Nigeria’s global image is not the outcry of defrauded investors—it is the impunity of government agencies that demolish legal investments with no compensation, no consultation, and no regard for the law.

This matter must be addressed urgently—not just for the sake of the WINHOMES diasporans, but to preserve the little trust that remains in Nigeria’s investment climate.

Based on the maltreatment, illegal demolitions, the affected residents, businesses owners hereby state that:

1. That the sudden diversion of the coastal road route affected many who were not compensated but merely dislodged heartlessly.

2. ⁠That those said to have been compensated were meagerly paid, they can’t get another property with what they were given. Some have developed hypertension, another died and conditions of many others unknown.

3. That others with some pieces of land remaining after the realignment took part, still have their fates hanging due to refusal of government agencies to give clearance and approval for them to build on what is left. What agenda is still there apart from the road which is already paved?

4. ⁠That Minister Umahi should desist from using soldiers to harass and abduct people. Obanla was abducted from site by soldiers on instruction of Dave Umahi.

For records it is there in the public that the recent move by Lagos State Government to demolish structures in some parts of Lekki axis to pave way for the Lekki Airport was resisted by residents and land owners in Ajiwe asking for compensation, dialogue before the demolitions, a reasonable government of Lagos had to soft pedal and is now on the roundtable for discussion with the residents. Shockingly this wasn’t the case on the coastal highway construction and realignment where properties were forcefully demolished without due consultation and compensation. Rather a brute force was deployed by the Federal Ministry of Works under Minister Dave Umahi. In addition, there was an order of the court stopping the government from the actions of demolitions, the government still went ahead against the court.

We at this juncture imploring your office to officially do all possible to do the needful in getting fairness for the affected residents, land owners and investors.

Please accept the assurances of our esteemed regards always.

Yours in selfless service to humanity

Shina loremikan
08033235822
Declan Ihekaire
0806030045.