The House of Representatives has received a petition from a group of Nigerians who are diasporic real estate investors calling for a comprehensive inquiry into the Federal Ministry of Works’ alleged unlawful diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road in Okun Ajah.

The Federal Ministry of Works allegedly illegally redirected the road, causing real estate investors’ buildings in Okun Ajah, Lagos, to be demolished. The investors accused the Minister of Works of ignoring the original gazetted alignment and abusing its power to harass and threaten innocent citizens.

Investors said in a statement that their properties, notably the WinHomes Estate, which had drawn a lot of foreign direct investment (FDI), had been destroyed as a result of the road’s diversion.

“We are extremely concerned about the unlawful actions of the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Controller of Works,” stated Femi Adekoya, one of the impacted investors. Our neighbourhood has suffered greatly as a result of the road’s diversion, and we want justice.

The House of Representatives’ Chairman of the Works Committee was requested by the investors to look into the situation and hold those in charge accountable.

“The violators of the original master plan have gone to town with false claims and outright falsehood in an attempt to curry the favour of Minister of Works, David Umahi,” stated one of the investors, whose building was razed.

The false narrative that more than two thousand homes will be destroyed if the road is not diverted is part of the tissue of falsehoods being spread. They pushed on the diversion to avoid what is rightfully a recompense for their avarice, ignoring the predicament of others who followed the rules and constructed beyond the Coastal route.

“The existence of a so-called marine cable, which is remote from the coastal route in Okun Ajah, is also mentioned in their propaganda.”