Property owners in Eti-Osa, Lagos have raised fresh alarm over the plan by the government to demolish buildings on the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway corridor.
They claimed that despite having the necessary documents and approvals, the Lagos State officials have marked their structures to reclaim the Right of Way (RoW) for the project, which is expected to transverse nine states. The affected properties are in Orile Ilasan, lroko-Awe Community Development Areas, and Oba Elegushi Royal Estate.
The government yielded to their earlier appeal and remarked on the route to stave off demolition of the structures, however, five of the property owners are still affected by the planned demolition.
Speaking with The Guardian, their lawyer, B. Chinedu Moore & Associate, confirmed that many property owners were saved through the exercise by the authorities, adding that five buildings are still affected. One of the property owners received a fresh demolition notice from the state’s Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The notice entitled, ‘Removal notice for physical development within the Right of Ways of the proposed Lagos- Calabar Highway project in Lagos State’ dated May 10, 2024″, stated that “following a newspaper publication for the construction of 103 kilometres stretch of the 700-Kilometres Lagos/Calabar Coastal Highway by the ministry of works in collaboration with Lagos State government. I am to inform you that your property’s two floor(s) falls within the Right of Way alignment of the project by a total metre of two floors well fenced.”
The notice signed by a Deputy Director, the ministry’s Development Matters Department, Somolu O, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, stated that the affected portion would be removed in overriding public interest to pave the way for the road construction project from seven days of serving the notice.
It added: “Given the above, I am to request you to forward all documents supporting your ownership of the property to The Permanent Secretary, Land Bureau, Ikeja.”
However, the affected property owner said the land was acquired from Ojomu Family Land (Lafiaji Area) and Gazetted No.24, Vol 27, June 23, 1994, as well as possesses approval, querying why the government should insist on demolishing the property.
One of those affected in a viral video lamented the demolition notice served on her property, allegedly two months after moving in. In the video, which surfaced online recently, the woman recounted her ordeal and displayed a picture of a demolition notice dated May 7, 2024.
She said: “We bought that property in February, and we’ve only been there for two months. All the hard work, all the sleepless nights, everything… If you’re in Lagos, you’ll know how much property in Eti-Osa costs. Each time my son sees me crying, he will always ask me why I am crying.
How do I explain this to our son? What do I tell my children? I’m trying so hard to be strong, but this is very painful.” In reaction, an official with the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, who pleaded anonymity, reiterated that the project is for public interests and developmental purposes, adding that it has nothing to do with whether they have the approval or not.
“Government wants to remove the structures because it wants to construct a road. Unfortunately, most of the people, who claim to have approval may not have one,” the source said.
However, the official disclosed that property owners with genuine approvals and will be compensated. “The properties must have a Certificate of Occupancy, planning permits and other documents. They should bring it forward and the government will compensate them,” the source said.
