Civil groups lead Lagos coastal road protest over forced evictions, demanding justice, compensation, and an end to landowner displacement in Okun Ajah
Civil society organisations on Wednesday staged a peaceful Lagos coastal road protest at the Federal Ministry of Works annexe in Lagos.
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The demonstration was organised to denounce the alleged forced displacement of landowners and residents of Okun Ajah due to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Protesters submitted a petition to ministry officials, demanding justice for affected communities, immediate compensation, and an end to what they described as “militarised evictions.”
They also called for the release of a detained colleague, Obanla, who they claim was abducted during a clearance operation.
According to coalition coordinator Shina Loremikan, “The current realignment of the highway has led to mass displacement without adequate consultation or compensation. The government is using the cover of infrastructure to grab land.”
He claimed Obanla was taken by military personnel at the disputed Winhomes project site and had not been seen since.
“We’ve searched police stations and the state command, but no one admits to holding him. It’s an abduction,” Loremikan said.
He described the protest as a necessary stand against what he termed systemic dispossession.
“This is not just about one person. It’s about an entire community being erased without justice.”
A ministry representative received the petition and promised to escalate the grievances to higher authorities.
Meanwhile, diaspora Nigerians have also criticised the demolition of Winhomes Estate in October 2024 and demanded that the Federal Ministry of Works return to the gazetted 2006 route.
Stella Okengwu of WinHomes Global Estate said, “We conducted full due diligence, got approvals from the Lagos State Government, and now our investments have been wiped out with bulldozers. We won’t accept mere compensation.”
She called on President Tinubu to intervene, adding that the diversion was undermining the rule of law and damaging trust in public institutions.
The protest, which drew supporters from multiple civil society groups, continued in Abuja on the same day.
Protesters vowed to sustain their actions until justice is served and legal landowners are protected.
“We will keep raising our voices. This isn’t development; it’s demolition without accountability,” Loremikan insisted.
“The Lagos coastal road protest is just the beginning. The world must see what’s happening in Okun Ajah.”
Residents say they want infrastructure, but not at the cost of their ancestral lands and lawful property. They urge the federal government to consult affected communities and avoid further escalation of tension.
“This impunity must stop. We’re Nigerians too, and we deserve to be heard,” said one protester.
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The Lagos coastal road protest reflects growing public frustration with forced evictions linked to the coastal highway project, and the demand for a fairer, transparent approach to development.
