A Group of Diaspora Nigerians has alleged illegal diversion and alteration of the original route of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction project at Okun Ajah, Lagos State.
The group said the action had affected their investments in WinHomes Estate, located at Okun Ajah, accusing the Federal Ministry of Works of sidestepping the original gazetted alignment of the highway under construction.
A representative of the group, Mr Femi Adekoya, in a statement on Friday, further alleged harassment and intimidation of their members in an attempt to cow them into submission.
He claimed the alleged diversion had led to the destruction of buildings and other structures at the privately owned housing estate.
In a swift reaction, however, the Federal Ministry of Works said no official of the Ministry has the mandate to divert the road project from its original route.
In a telephone interview at the weekend, Mr. Orji Orji, Media Adviser to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, said the action of the group was politically motivated.
“They are looking for people that will help them to play politics with the road project,” Orji said.
But the group insisted that the Ministry and some of its officials were acting in ways that could undermine their investments in the said housing estate, claiming that members hold legal titles to their land.
“We have all the necessary legal documentation, including Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the Lagos State Government, including those whose properties were demolished without any prior notice,” they claimed.
