News
Coastal Highway Residents Express Concern Over Lawlessness, Appeal to Tinubu and Umahi for Action
Residents of Okun Ajah in Lagos State accuse the government of ethnic bias and favoritism in the proposed re-routing of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, fearing that influential property owners are using their connections to avoid disruption.
The residents claim that certain wealthy individuals from a specific region have encroached on the coastal road’s original plan and are now using their influence to ensure the re-routing benefits them, leaving law-abiding residents vulnerable.
The residents, who hold proper titles for their properties, fear they will be unjustly demolished while the encroachers are spared. They appeal to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure fairness in the re-routing process.
One of the residents, Bola Akingbade said: “We are really worried about what is going on here in Okun Ajah. Many of the land owners here avoided the coastal road areas and have since perfected their titles with the Lagos state government. We knew that a day will come when the government will decide to reactivate the coastal road masterplan , so we clearly avoided that axis.
“Unfortunately, those that deliberately purchased and built their properties along the coastal road are now making a mockery of us because some unscrupulous government officials have collected huge bribes from them to ensure that their houses are not affected by the ongoing demolition exercise of illegal structures on the coastal roads.”
Condemning what he described as a daring act of impunity, another resident, David Abiola said that the government must not allow the corruption going on with the rerouting plan to stand as it will further encourage others to flaunt government directives.
He said “We are trying to let the government know that when they set rules, people who flaut them should be punished. By not punishing these law breakers, who knowingly built their houses on prohibited areas, government will be setting a bad precedent. Those of us who avoided the coastal road areas have now become a laughing stock because some corrupt officials have collected money from rich individuals mostly from certain part of the country.
“We are appealing to President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, David Umahi to ensure that this allegation is thoroughly investigated and those found culpable punished. We are also appealing to them to ensure that the rerouting of the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway in the community is in concordance with the 2006 gazetted alignment.”
An indigene of the town, Yussuf Odunuga said, “Since we got the excision for this village in 2006 under the then Governor Bola Tinubu, now President of Nigeria, there was an alignment for Coastal road and it was gazetted. Everybody in the town knows that there is a Coastal road alignment but some people went ahead to build on some parts of the alignment thinking that government will not come and construct the road in future.”
The indigene also maintained that; “Now that it is the time for the construction of the road, the minister is trying to divert the road from the houses of those who built on the alignment at the expense of those who adhered to the alignment.
“It is really unjust and confusing. Those who are affected now have the valid documents from the government, while those who built on the coastal road do not,” Odunuga said.
Kazeem Shittu, a member of the Okun Ajah Baale in Council, urged the minister to reinstate the original alignment of the coastal road to alleviate tensions in the community.
While commending the President and Minister for their efforts on the coastal road project, Shittu requested they uphold the 2006 alignment plan.
Kazeem said: “Reverting to the coastal road alignment of 2006 will engender peace and unity in the community. The Minister of Work should go back to the gazetted alignment of the Coastal road in our community.”
Also, the Akogun on Okun Ajah, Saeed Olukosi, also appealed to the Minister of Works to return to the gazetted alignment, noting that rerouting the road is like punishing those who observed and followed the law to favour law breaker.
Olukosi said: “We were there when President Tinubu came to flag off the road and we were all happy with the way it was. And now the minister is changing the route in Okun Ajah.
“Before now ,we have had a stakeholders ‘meeting at Eko Hotel ,where it was agreed that the road will follow the gazetted alignment but we are but what the minister is saying is not clear to us.”
He appealed that; “There have already been compensation plan for those who are affected on the coastal road alignment, the minister should adhere to the alignment and not create new victims.”
A property owner, Ajigbotosho Oluwasegun said “I have been living here for many years and did the necessary confirmation about the coastal road before building my house.
“I want to appeal to the minister to follow due process and let the road align with the gazetted portion in Okun Ajah. Those who built on the coastal road cannot be pampered at the expense of those of us who are law abiding.”
The Lagos State Government has said it would soon arrange a meeting with developers/owners of distressed buildings on how best to address the redesign and remodelling of such structures by November.
This was disclosed recently by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Oluyinka Olumide, at a function in Alahusa, Lagos.
Olumide said the prevalence of distressed buildings in different parts of the state was worrisome and needed the urgent attention of all stakeholders.
He said, “The Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as mandated by the Lagos State Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law, 2019, as amended, was willing to extend its responsibility for approving the remodelling of existing buildings to provide technical assistance to developers and owners of distressed buildings, especially on the design and remodelling of such buildings.
The Federal Government has instructed the contractors responsible for the 107km Enugu-Onitsha road dualization to expedite the project.
This directive was given by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, during a meeting with MTN, the Enugu State Government, and the contractors, RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd, on Friday.
According to a statement released on Friday, the minister said he is disappointed over the slow pace of work on the project, he said, “Let me express my disappointment over the slow pace of work on that project. It is one of the worst roads in this country.
“Everywhere we have diversion; diverting from the one that RCC and Nigercat had completed, the contractors are not kind enough to even put stone based on the diversion points.”
He added, “So, by the reason of the launching of our Operation Free our Roads, it is now a violation of the policy on the side of the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works where we have vehicles falling on any project that is ongoing or where there are potholes on our roads.”
He also blamed the sufferings of road users on the lack of commitment and insensitivity of the contractors.
“The public must know that the President’s intention is not for them to suffer while trying to fix the roads, and it is their right to insist that contractors should fix the roads that they are engaged on,” he said.
The Minister commended the Enugu state government for their resolve to fund the construction of a 20 KM section of the road and expressed hope that MTN would execute the second phase of the project.
He noted, “Why the Enugu State government is intervening is because of the slow pace of work by the contractors and because of funding issues. The essence of tax credit is for funds to be made available. And so, I don’t see RCC going to keep their promise to finish this project in 6 months.
“My advice to MTN is to look for another contractor within that axis if they want to get the job done. Division of labour is even the best. While they are doing the road, and if Nigercat is doing a good job, you can give them greater scope to do if you want to finish that job.”
He warned contractors that the Federal Government would not accept phased handovers of projects and has phased out Variation of Price in contract administration.
The Ekiti State government has intervened to resolve a longstanding land dispute between the Elepe of Epe-Ekiti, Oba Ayodele Adesoye, and the Atolagbe family. The government cautioned against the misuse of modernization as an excuse to disregard traditional customs.
In line with the community’s traditions, the government has ordered the release of resources, including palm trees at Oko Oba Farmland, to Oba Adesoye for his administration. This decision ensures the continued adherence to age-old practices.
Ekiti State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, announced the resolution in Ado-Ekiti. The decision was made after considering the Elepe’s claim to Oko Oba Farmland based on historical evidence.
Mrs. Afuye acknowledged the Elepe’s right to be the custodian of Oko Oba Farmland, citing longstanding traditions that support his claim. The decision reflects the importance of respecting historical practices and ensuring their preservation.
The deputy governor, however, told the monarch in clear terms that other princes and princesses from all the three ruling houses should be allowed to farm on the land without payment of royalty.
Mrs Afuye appealed to the community to comply with the government’s position to restore unity, peace and orderliness to the beleaguered community.
Oba Adesoye expressed gratitude for the government’s decision and pledged to foster peace and unity between the throne and the community, aiming to accelerate Epe’s development.
Representing the Atolagbe family, Dr. Yemi Agbeleoba acknowledged their willingness to cede Oko Oba Farmland to the monarch. However, he emphasized the need for all three ruling houses to participate for a lasting and traditional solution.
Agbeleoba expressed appreciation for the government’s directive, believing it will contribute to resolving the long-standing conflict.
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