Tinubu’s coastal highway faces court challenge over demolition

DDM News

A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has been asked to stop the planned demolition of an 18.8-hectare estate in Okun Ajah, Lagos, to make way for the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) reports that a group of concerned property owners and residents filed an application for an injunction, urging the court to halt the Federal Ministry of Works and its contractors from proceeding with the demolition.

The estate is home to hundreds of families and businesses that now face forced eviction without compensation or resettlement.

In their suit, the applicants alleged that due process was not followed in the acquisition of the land and described the planned demolition as a violation of their constitutional right to property.

They claimed that government-issued notices came without proper consultation or provision for alternative housing or business relocation.

Lead counsel for the plaintiffs, Barrister Adebayo Ojo, told the court that the demolition would cause “irreparable damage and untold hardship” to peaceful, law-abiding residents.

He appealed to the court for an urgent injunction to stop the exercise, warning that lives and livelihoods were at risk if the demolition went ahead.

The Federal Government, however, has maintained its position, stating that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is a project of strategic national importance.

Officials argue that the road, which stretches over 700 kilometers, will link multiple coastal states, including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River, and drive economic growth across Nigeria’s southern corridor.

Government representatives have also said that they are working on resettlement and compensation packages for affected communities, though details remain unclear.

The matter has now been adjourned by Justice T.G. Ringim to June 24 for hearing on the motion for interlocutory injunction, pending the determination of the main suit.

The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has stirred widespread controversy since its inception, with critics warning of environmental degradation, displacements, and lack of transparency.

Environmentalists have raised concerns about the project’s ecological impact, especially in coastal areas vulnerable to erosion and flooding.

Human rights advocates argue that residents are being sacrificed in the name of development, often without meaningful engagement or alternatives.

In Lagos, the Okun Ajah community represents just one of several neighborhoods reportedly marked for demolition under the road expansion plan.

Affected residents claim that their homes and businesses were built legally, and that they were not given fair notice, compensation, or viable relocation options.

Some observers have compared the situation to past controversial demolitions in the state, such as those in Maroko, Otodo Gbame, and Makoko, which left thousands displaced.

The coastal highway project, championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration, has been described by supporters as a transformative initiative that will reshape Nigeria’s transportation infrastructure and open up coastal tourism and trade.

However, critics insist that even landmark projects must adhere to legal and ethical standards, especially regarding displacement and compensation.

As the June 24 court date approaches, tensions are expected to rise between affected communities and government authorities.

Many see the upcoming court decision as a litmus test for judicial protection of property rights and human dignity in the face of major federal projects.

DDM will continue to follow the developments surrounding the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project and the fate of the Okun Ajah estate residents.

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