LAGOS — A group of Nigerians in the Diaspora, led by Mrs. Stella Okengwu, has petitioned the National Assembly over the alleged non-payment of compensation for investments and properties demolished during the construction of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway at Okun Ajah, in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The petition, filed on behalf of affected investors under Winhomes Estate Global Services Limited, accused the Federal Ministry of Works of failing to compensate property owners whose assets were destroyed in the course of the project. The disputed area reportedly covers about 18 hectares of land, including several residential and commercial structures.
Titled “Petition Against the Federal Ministry of Works in Respect of Its Refusal to Pay Compensation to Winhomes Estate Global Services Limited”, the document was addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, and submitted through the law firm Maverick Forte Legal.
According to the petition, Winhomes Estate, a duly registered real estate development company, had attracted foreign direct investment to its Okun Ajah site and holds valid land titles, including certificates of occupancy, land registry documents, and a deed of assignment endorsed by the Lagos State Attorney-General on April 22, 2022.
The petitioners alleged that the highway’s alignment was altered from its original route to pass through their property, leading to the demolition of assets without prior notice or compensation. They urged the Senate to compel the Federal Ministry of Works to produce the original design and alignment of the project as approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
They further referenced a letter from the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, dated April 16, 2024, which reportedly confirmed that the land in question was not within any right-of-way. Despite this clarification, construction activities allegedly proceeded, affecting the estate.
The group called on the Senate to set up an ad-hoc investigative committee and direct the Federal Ministry of Works to pay full compensation to the affected investors based on current market valuations.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly has acknowledged receipt of the petition and confirmed that it will be forwarded to the appropriate committee for further legislative consideration.
