No fewer than 1,000 homeowners, business operators and community leaders in Igbo Efon and surrounding communities along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway corridor have appealed to the Federal Government to halt fresh demolition plans following the recent marking of their properties.
The affected residents said their buildings were marked for removal based on a directive reportedly issued by the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, instructing occupants to vacate all structures located within a 150-metre setback from the high-water mark or risk demolition.
Under the umbrella of the Coalition of Project Affected Persons, PAPs, the residents accused the authorities of violating their constitutional rights while relying on what they described as a misapplication of international law.
Speaking on behalf of the group, the PAPs’ leader, Mr Tolu Ademiluyi, called on the Federal Government to immediately suspend enforcement of the 150-metre setback pending judicial review and meaningful public consultation.
Ademiluyi argued that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNCLOS, does not provide legal backing for retroactive evictions or the demolition of legally acquired properties.
In a statement titled “Our Homes, Our Rights: Rejecting Retroactive Eviction Under the Guise of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)”, the group said residents had lived and invested in the area for over three decades, acquiring land lawfully and developing properties with approvals from Lagos State planning authorities.
According to the statement, homes, schools, businesses and places of worship were established and occupied without objection from government agencies, only for residents to now face eviction without what they described as due process, compensation or location-specific scientific justification.
The group maintained that UNCLOS does not prescribe a mandatory 150-metre coastal setback, nor does it authorise the demolition of existing structures or the retroactive displacement of lawful occupants. They noted that the treaty, which Nigeria ratified in 1982, primarily governs maritime boundaries, navigation, marine resources and environmental protection, and does not override constitutional safeguards for property rights.
Raising further concerns, the group’s legal adviser, Mr Sola Enitan, demanded an immediate suspension of all demolitions and land acquisitions linked to the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway that do not comply with constitutional and statutory provisions.
He also called for full disclosure of all acquisition instruments, gazette notices and valuation reports relating to the project.
Enitan alleged that many affected residents had not received formal written notices, and that no official gazette publications had been presented to justify the revocation of property rights.
He further claimed that no comprehensive or transparent valuation of affected homes, businesses and other assets had been conducted, and that residents were denied opportunities to contest valuations or submit claims.
According to him, demolitions were allegedly carried out without prompt payment of compensation, creating what he described as an atmosphere of coercion and fear.
“What we have witnessed are forced evictions and demolitions carried out under armed supervision,” he said, describing the actions as violations of Sections 43 and 44 of the Constitution, the Land Use Act and established judicial precedents.
Reacting to the situation, a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing the area, Hon. Noheem Babatunde Adams, urged residents to pursue dialogue with the relevant authorities to find a way forward.
“What we need at this point is engagement,” Adams said, noting that plans for the coastal road predated the development of some estates along the corridor.
He added that prospective land buyers were expected to conduct due diligence with the Surveyor-General’s office before purchasing property in the area.
Meanwhile, the project-affected persons reiterated their call for the Federal Government to establish a transparent compensation and resettlement framework for any future coastal management actions.
They also urged authorities to engage independent experts to conduct site-specific environmental and risk assessments rather than imposing a uniform buffer zone.
While affirming support for environmental protection, Ademiluyi warned against what he described as authoritarian approaches to sustainability, stressing that environmental policies must respect due process, human rights and the rule of law.
He said the group remained open to dialogue but vowed to pursue legal and civic action to protect their homes if necessary, urging the government to prioritise justice, legality and the welfare of citizens in the implementation of national infrastructure projects.
Lagos–Calabar Highway: Over 1,000 Igbo Efon residents protest fresh demolition markings
