Leaders from Okun Igando, a coastal community located in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, have voiced their worries about a plan for a 150-meter setback along both sides of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. They fear this would result in the destruction of ancestral residences and established neighborhoods.
In a release on Tuesday, community leaders including Gbadebo Fatah, the Baale, as well as Adebayo Agbabiaka, Surau Opeyemi, Sharahu Ogunyemi, and Prince Abraham, appealed to both the federal and Lagos State governments to postpone any demolition actions and provide waivers for current settlements.
While expressing support for the coastal highway project, which is a key initiative under President Bola Tinubu, these leaders raised alarms regarding properties already marked for demolition that threaten to erase entire communities.
"After all our sacrifices—homes, shrines, heritage sites—some people came again to mark houses for demolition. They claimed they were from the Surveyor- General’s office. If they take 150 meters to the right and 150 meters to the left, nothing will be left of our community," commented Mr. Agbabiaka.
Many homes affected by this setback were built several decades ago, with construction materials transported via waterways from Epe, community representatives noted. They further criticized previous compensations from demolitions, deeming them significantly inadequate.
"Some families were offered between N9 million and N10 million. There is nowhere in Ibeju-Lekki today where that can buy land, not to mention rebuilding a house," Agbabiaka added.
Leader Sharahu Ogunyemi pointed out that while past compensations sometimes covered crops, they did not account for the loss of buildings, leaving numerous residents uncompensated for the structures that were destroyed. Meanwhile, Prince Abraham alerted that some reports indicate an even broader corridor of 1.5 kilometers could be enforced in the future, potentially leading to total community displacement.
Mr. Fatah reiterated that the community does not oppose development. "We support the coastal road. It is a legacy project. But development should not obliterate entire communities without dialogue and fairness," he insisted.
In response to inquiries from PREMIUM TIMES regarding the 150-meter setback, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, was contacted via WhatsApp and text on Tuesday, but no response was received by the time of this report.
Umahi’s former media aide, Uchenna Orji, confirmed he is no longer with the minister and could not provide information. Furthermore, a source within the Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation indicated that the markings were intended to outline federal land rather than serve as a demolition notice. The Zonal Director of Survey Coordination for OSGOF in Lagos, Sunday Adefarati, also refrained from commenting.
Background information from the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) states that over 32 communities in Ibeju-Lekki, such as Eleko, Iberekodo, and Igando Oruju, have similarly been designated for demolition due to this setback. Residents have faced repeated displacements, inadequate compensation, and continuous road realignments in recent years. Some communities previously avoided decimation through diversions, but the new setback threatens half of their settlements.
Residents have united to create pressure groups aimed at engaging with authorities and exploring legal options, emphasizing that enforcement without proper consultation could potentially incite unrest.
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