Tension in Lagos Over Coastal Road Project Demolition Plans

Tensions have escalated in Ibeju Lekki, Lagos, regarding a new demolition plan associated with the Coastal Road Project, which mandates a 150-meter setback from the coastline. Community leaders have raised alarms, warning that this move could displace long-established ancestral settlements.

During a visit by newsmen last Thursday, residents expressed fear and panic over potential demolitions, recalling past displacements that affected entire villages and led to inadequate compensation, with families receiving between N9 million and N10 million, which they deemed grossly insufficient. Chief Adebayo Agbabiaka criticized the compensation process for previous projects, emphasizing the need for the federal government and Lagos State to engage with affected communities and consider waivers for existing settlements.

Concerns were also voiced by Kunle Balogun of the Ijebu Kingdom regarding the implications of the proposed setbacks on ancestral lands. The Coastal Road Project, part of a larger initiative to connect Lagos to Calabar, is expected to impact several coastal states, yet homeowners along the corridor continue to protest against property destruction without adequate notice or compensation.