A group of Nigerians, including real estate investors residing abroad, have petitioned the House of Representatives, urging an investigation into the alleged unauthorized diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road in Okun Ajah by the Federal Ministry of Works.
These investors, whose properties were demolished by the Ministry in Lagos, claim the road diversion violated the gazetted original plan. They accused the Minister of Works of abusing power, leading to harassment and intimidation of law-abiding citizens.
The group highlighted that the diversion caused the destruction of valuable properties, including WinHomes Estate, which had garnered significant foreign direct investment (FDI). Femi Adekoya, one of the affected investors, expressed concern over the Ministry’s illegal actions, saying, “This road diversion has created severe hardship in our community, and we demand justice.”
They have called on the House Committee on Works to thoroughly investigate the issue and ensure accountability.
Another investor lamented, “The violators of the original master plan are spreading false narratives to justify this illegal action. Claims such as 2,000 homes being demolished if the road isn’t rerouted are baseless, ignoring the law-abiding citizens who built outside the Coastal road.”
The group also dismissed claims about the presence of a marine cable, stating it is far from the original Coastal route in Okun Ajah.