A coalition of civil society organisations on Tuesday, staged a peaceful protest in Lagos to demand justice for residents and investors in Okun Ajah, who they claim have been unfairly dispossessed of their lands due to what they described as a wrong alignment in the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

Operating under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, the demonstrators also demanded the immediate and unconditional release of one of their members, who they allege was unlawfully detained in the wake of controversial land clearances along the coastal corridor.

The protest, led by Shina Loremikan, Coordinator of the Coalition, drew dozens of activists and sympathisers, who marched with placards denouncing what they called ?land grabbing? and ?state-backed oppression of ordinary citizens.?

Speaking during the protest, Mr. Loremikan said the aim was to draw public attention to what he described as ?a pattern of intimidation and high-handedness? by both government officials and private developers operating in the Okun Ajah axis.

?This is beyond just land re-alignment,? he said. ?It is a systemic effort to disenfranchise lawful landowners and investors. We are calling on the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government to come clean on the true intentions behind the so-called alignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.?

He alleged that one of the Coalition?s members, identified simply as Obanla, was abducted by military personnel at the WINHOMES project site ? one of the disputed locations tied to the highway development ? on the alleged orders of the Minister of Works, Mr. Dave Umahi.

According to the Coalition, the actions of the Minister of Works and his agents represent a ?gross abuse of office and state power.? The group accused Mr. Umahi of deploying federal resources to intimidate landowners and civil society actors who have questioned the transparency of the project.

They argued that the ongoing realignment of the highway ? which cuts through several communities ? is being executed without adequate consultation or compensation.

?This is land grabbing disguised as infrastructure development,? said another protester. ?People woke up to see bulldozers demolishing their property. No prior notice, no consultation, no compensation. This is not how development should work.?

The protesters alleged that the entire corridor realignment process has been shrouded in secrecy, without proper environmental impact assessments, community engagement, or respect for existing land rights.

After the march, the Coalition submitted a formal petition to the Lagos State Ministry of Works. The letter, addressed to the Commissioner for Works, outlined the group?s grievances, including the alleged illegal detention of their member, the lack of transparency in the land acquisition process, and the reported use of military force against civilians.

In the petition, the Coalition demanded the following:

A representative of the Commissioner for Works received the petition and assured the group that the matter would be forwarded to the appropriate authorities.

The Coalition said the protest was not solely about the release of their detained colleague, but also a broader call for justice, transparency, and accountability in the handling of major infrastructure projects that affect communities.

The Coalition vowed to sustain its advocacy campaign until all its demands are met and the rights of residents are restored.

?We will not be silenced,? said Mr. Loremikan. ?We will keep protesting, engaging the media, and knocking on every door until justice is done. Our struggle is legitimate, and we will pursue it lawfully to the end.?

He also called on international human rights organisations, legal aid groups, and development watchdogs to closely monitor developments around the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, especially in areas where land clearance is ongoing.

?This is not just a local issue. It is a human rights concern, and we are calling on the global community to take notice,? he said.

As at the time of filing this report, there had been no official response from the Minister of Works, Mr. Umahi, or from the Federal Ministry of Works concerning the allegations raised by the protesters. (THISDAY)

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