Coastal highway: Lagos community hails FG for sparing 2,000 houses
The Okun-Ajah Community in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State has commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for reverting to the original route for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project and saving over 2,000 of their homes from demolition.
They gave their commendation in a letter to the minister, signed by the Baale of Okun-Aja, Chief Sikiru Olukasi, and Secretary, Kamorudeen Balogun, titled ‘Letter of appreciation for the coastal road realignment’.
In May, the community had cried out to the federal and Lagos State governments to exclude its traditional ruler’s palace and 2,000 other homes from a revised project route, saying the properties were wrongly earmarked for demolition.
On May 24, 2024, Umahi informed community groups and traditional institutions in the state, particularly the Okun-Ajah community, of a realignment in the area to save submarine cables and other business facilities.
Commending the minister in their letter dated July 5, the community said the government’s decision brought them “immense relief.”
They said, “The traditional ruler and representatives of the Okun-Ajah Community in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State write to express our heartfelt gratitude for your recent decision to reroute the coastal road project that would have led to the demolition of our traditional home.
“The willingness of the Federal Government to consider and act upon the concerns of our community is profoundly appreciated and it demonstrates the government’s commitment to preserving our cultural heritage.
“Your decision has brought immense relief and delight to the people of Okun-Ajah, as our traditional home holds significant cultural and historical value to us. It is a place where our traditions and customs are upheld, and it serves as a symbol of our identity and unity.
“By choosing to reroute the road to the swamp area of the community, you have not only safeguarded a crucial part of our heritage by saving thousands of our people from homelessness but also reinforced the trust and confidence we have in the Federal Government of Nigeria that has shown human emotions for her citizenry.”
The 700-kilometre stretch of road infrastructure, which will span eight years to complete, is expected to gulp up to N15tn.
