Tempers flared on Sunday when Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, held a public engagement in the Victoria Island area of Lagos with stakeholders and homeowners whose properties were affected by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.
The minister was accompanied by federal lawmakers inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects across the nation.
When Umahi opened the floor for questions, a woman who identified as a campaigner for President Bola Tinubu during the 2023 election said the coastal road was diverted into her estate in Lagos, with all her houses demolished despite having the necessary certificates and authorisations from the government.
The minister accused the woman of mobilising protests to stop the project, an allegation the Pro-Tinubu supporter denied.
“You have been doing a lot to stop the project. Listen to me, if I get further disturbances from you, there will be consequences for it. We are following the law. You are free to go to court if we are infringing on your rights,” Umahi said.
When the woman didn’t stop speaking after the microphone had been taken from her, the minister said, “Security, move her out”.
“I’m a matron in Tinubu campaign organisation that has over 5,000 members,” the agitated woman retorted.
The moment the Minister of Works Dave Umahi asked security personnel to ‘move out’ a woman who says she is a patron in the Tinubu Campaign Organization for asking a question.
Umahi further said his properties have been demolished for some road projects in parts of the country.
He said, “While the case is going on, we plead for your cooperation so that whatever the court says, we will obey. But please, let nobody take laws into his or her hands.
“I plead with you if you are offended by me or the ministry, please accept our apology. The coast highway must be on land and where there are issues like cables, we will do a flyover or refinery, we will do a flyover.
“In Port Harcourt, my property was also involved in the construction of East-West Road, totally demolished. In Aba, my property was also involved.”
“Please, bear with me and know that we have nothing to benefit or hide.”
The minister said the final designs would be produced, insisting that the shoreline belongs to the Federal Government. “The beachside is not your land, the beachside belongs to the Federal Government,” he said.
The Lagos-Calabar Superhighway, estimated to cost about N15 trillion, is designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states, before culminating in Cross River.
The project, which has caused some buildings to be demolished, has attracted a barrage of intense criticisms from many Nigerians who strongly felt that the timing of the project was wrong but Umahi said the project is in the best interest of Nigerians.
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