Over 100 property owners in Lafiaji community, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, are planning to take legal action against the Federal Government over demolition notices issued to evacuate their properties for the Lagos-Calabar Highway construction.
At a press conference on Tuesday, the property owners, accused Works Minister David Umahi of altering the original right of way to shield prominent politicians, despite their adherence to due process in acquiring their lands and ensuring they did not encroach on the established Right of Way.
The owners claimed that some individuals had built on the Right of Way without valid legal titles, and were now being protected by the government’s arbitrary deviation from the original plan.
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They said, “In the acquisition of our plots of land and development of our respective homes and property, we obtained requisite consents of the Lagos State Government to our deeds of assignments, had our respective survey plans hewed from the approved Ojomu Family Layout Plan, and obtained all the necessary building approvals and development permits from the relevant agencies of the Lagos State Government.
“However, there are those who, overtime, have built on the said Right of Way and constructed huge estates crisscrossing same in the illusion that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would never be built, without any valid legal title to the land on which they built; or with government officials-assisted fabricated certificates of occupancy with embossed survey-plans (the area coordinates of which truly are that of lands adjacent and proximate to the Right of Way, but which are passed off as that of lands situated within or covered by the Right of Way, to obtain certificates of occupancy). These persons also either did not obtain valid building approvals and development permits from the relevant agencies of the Lagos State Government or were assisted by corrupt officials of government to obtain doctored documents.
“As an outcome of the recent visit of the Honourable Minister of Works and Federal Controller of Works to the communities affected by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, especially regarding compliance with the enforcement of the Right of Way, valuation of affected landed property, service of removal and demolition notices, and compensation, the Honourable Minister of Works and the Federal Controller of Works decided to deviate from the scrupulous implementation of the Right of way by specifically directing surveyors of the Federal Government of Nigeria (Ministry of Works) on the project to establish a fresh Right of Way, create a new alignment and alter the road-course into the area where our clients’ plots of lands and houses are situate, an area which was not covered by the long established Right of Way.”
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, aimed at enhancing connectivity and boosting economic activities along Nigeria’s coastal region, has been marred by controversies since its commencement in March.
Property owners are displeased with the government’s compensation offers, claiming they do not match their investments, and are now seeking legal action to protect their rights.
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