KEY POINTS

• Coalition plans lawsuit if demands are unmet.
• Residents claim compensation is inadequate for property losses.
• Lawmakers issue multiple summons, urging minister to address concerns.

The Coalition for Land Rights Advocacy in Nigeria plans to take legal action against the Federal Government over what it describes as inadequate compensation for residents displaced by the Lagos-Calabar highway project. According to coalition leaders, the government’s N18 billion offer fails to meet the real value of property losses incurred by affected residents.

Coalition demands fair compensation for displaced residents

Coalition Head Sola Enitan explained that they have repeatedly tried to engage Minister of Works David Umahi to address the concerns of affected property owners. However, if the minister does not respond to their demands, Enitan confirmed they would proceed to court. “If the minister does not yield to our demands, we will have no choice but to go to court,” he said. “The coalition represents those displaced by the project, protecting their rights and interests.”

According to a reoirt by The Punch, the Lagos-Calabar highway project aims to improve coastal transportation and boost trade, but it has displaced hundreds of residents. Many of those affected say they have not received fair compensation for their lost homes and lands. According to Enitan, the government has ignored the constitutional requirement to provide “just, fair, reasonable, and adequate compensation” for those impacted by public projects.

Over the past eight months, the coalition and its legal representatives sent more than 65 letters to the Ministry of Works, each outlining the inadequacies in the proposed compensation framework. Enitan noted that the ministry has not responded to a single letter. “Instead, they hold stakeholder meetings where displaced residents face intimidation and shaming,” he said. Social media videos from these meetings show the hostile environment affected residents encounter.

Calls for presidential intervention to resolve the dispute

The coalition also pointed out that, under the Land Use Act of 1978, the Land Use and Allocations Committee is responsible for overseeing compensation disputes. According to Enitan, however, Minister Umahi has continuously disregarded this requirement, choosing coercion over fair discussion. In response, the coalition presented its case to the House of Representatives. The House Committee on Public Petitions has summoned the minister three times, but he has yet to appear, which Enitan says shows the ministry’s unwillingness to address residents’ concerns.

With frustrations mounting, the coalition now seeks intervention from President Bola Tinubu to resolve the issue. Although Umahi recently announced an increase in the compensation budget from N8 billion to N18 billion, affected residents remain skeptical. They say the funds do not reflect the true value of their lost properties.

Legal action is likely if the government fails to address these concerns. The coalition remains committed to securing fair compensation for all displaced residents through every available channel.