Approximately 100 residents took to the streets in protest, expressing concerns over the marking of their properties for demolition and urging the government to reconsider its plans.
Saheed Olukosi, leading the demonstration, emphasized the importance of adhering to due process by reverting to the originally gazetted Right of Way (RoW). He highlighted that their community had confirmed with the Ministry of Physical Planning that their buildings did not encroach on the RoW of the coastal road alignment. Olukosi insisted that those who knowingly built on the existing RoW should face consequences.
The residents stressed that the alignment for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, as gazetted by the Lagos State Surveyor General and marked by the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development since 2006/2013, had not been officially altered. They cited the preservation of the original alignment in their property documents, including a global Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) dated December 2006 No 69/69/2006AC.
Ridwan Adekunle pointed out a significant deviation from the approved coastal road alignment by field officers from the Ministry of Physical Planning and the Federal Ministry of Works upon approaching their community from Ahmadu Bello Way. He emphasized that their land was covered by a global CofO, and any deviation should be thoroughly examined.
Addressing the demonstrators, Desmond Elliot, the lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency I, assured them that the issue would be addressed upon the resumption of plenary. He pledged to convene all relevant parties involved to resolve the matter effectively.
