Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road: Concerned Indigenes of Lagos urges FG, Umahi not to be distracted

Worried by criticisms from some quarters trailing the construction of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, Concerned Indigenes of Lagos, have urged the Federal Government not to be distracted.

They expressed their support for the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and urged the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to ignore distractors.

Concerned Indigenes of Lagos in a statement by its Coordinator, Dr. Adewale Ogunlewe, condemned the attempt by some fifth columnists within the some communities in Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos State, especially some traditional chiefs to pressurise the Federal Government and Umahi to move the already signed alignment from community to another one based on fallacies.

The Group appealed to President Bola Tinubu; Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to come to their rescue against those they tagged “enemy of progress.”

The statement reads: “The Concerned Indigenes of Lagos decry the attempts by some part of Okun Ajah community, including some Baales in Eti-Osa Local Government of Lagos State trying to put pressure on the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to move the already signed alignment to their part of the community based on fallacies.

“Some agitators in the community visited the Federal Controller of Works for Lagos State, stating that the present alignment will be causing the demolition of about 2,000 houses, a claim that we found out to be totally false.

“From our own findings, the alignment as it presently stands defines the project Coastal Road, as it passes by the coastal as it should be. Yes, the present alignment isn’t the main alignment originally proposed by the Renewed Hope President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2006, neither is the second realignment which is housing law-abiding Nigerians who acquired their lands with a CoO.

“The agenda of a faction of the Okun Ajah community for a realignment back to the second alignment which was in gross disregard for lawful rights is to say the least wicked on the part of the agitators.

“We hereby appeal to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and the Minister of Works, David Umahi to come to our rescue by doing the right thing.

“The alignment cannot be moved back to the former path as this will result to loss of both lives and property.

“The people are heavily dependent on the lands and property which they lawfully acquired taking into consideration the right of way for the planned Coastal Road. We have staged a peaceful protest and will continue to do so until our cries are heard.

“We want to appeal to the minister to return the alignment to the original 2006 Right of Way or leaves it where it is now. Please, don’t rob Peter to pay Paul. Please rescue us.”