Residents of the Okun-Ajah community in Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest over the proposed demolition of their structures erected along the corridor of the proposed coastal road.
Spokesman of the protesters, Mr. Musiliu Ologunro, while addressing the lawmakers, who received them on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, stated that there is a blueprint for the coastal road over the years.
He noted that before structures were erected by the residents, they had confirmed from the State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development concerning whether they were on coastal road and that they were told that the layout was not on coastal roads.
According to a petition by the protesters titled “Lagos State Ministry Of Physical Planning and Lagos State Surveyor-General and Federal Ministry Of Works Deviating From Gazetted Road Alignment” submitted to the House of Assembly, the protesters said that their houses had been marked as being obstructive to right-of-way, insisting that it was not.
The petition further stated that, “We are aware of the Federal Government of Nigeria’s decision to construct a Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and series of Alignment Verification have commenced.”
Continuing, the petitioners informed the lawmakers that “Okun Ajah community specifically has preserved the portion of alignment gazetted in the survey attached to the Certificate of Occupancy prepared and signed by the Lagos State Surveyor-General, while the alignment has been marked by Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development since 2006/2013, respectfully.
“However, the official of the Lagos State Government stormed the community and started marking houses that were not on the alignment, in this regard the original alignment is what has been maintained right from the starting point which is Ahmadu Bello Way to Coplage Estate which is what is expected to be maintained all through the exercise.
“We hereby appeal to the Lagos State Government, the Lagos State Governor and the Lagos State House of Assembly that those that deliberately built on the right of way cannot eat their cake and have it,” the petition concluded.
Hon. Desmond Elliot who received the protesters on behalf of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, assured the protesters that their petition will be communicated to the leadership of the House for further deliberations.
Hon. Rasheed Shabi who also addressed the protesters, urged them to submit a clean copy of the petition, assuring that the House would get back to them in due course.
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