By Onilede Titi Faith
A coalition of civil society activists and Nigerians in the diaspora staged a protest on Thursday at the Federal Ministry of Works in Mabushi, Abuja, over the alleged flouting of a court order and the demolition of properties linked to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
The demonstrators, under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Rights Against Impunity, decried what they described as the unlawful and forceful demolition of properties in communities affected by the road construction. They accused the Ministry of ignoring a subsisting court injunction halting the demolitions and failing to compensate displaced property owners.
Led by rights activists Declan Ihekaire and Shina Loremikan, the protesters criticized the Federal Government’s handling of the project, alleging that due process was not followed. They claimed the Ministry resorted to sudden, unannounced demolitions that left families and business owners displaced and stranded.
Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Justice for Property Owners,” “Minister of Works Is Complicit in Abrupt Road Diversion,” and “From Glory to Gory: Tinubu Coastal Road Demolition Is Illegal,” the protesters demanded immediate redress.
The group also called for the release of one Mr. Obanla, reportedly arrested during one of the demolition exercises. They urged the National Assembly to investigate the demolition process, ensure accountability, and determine whether legal compensation was provided.
While acknowledging the potential importance of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the coalition insisted that the project must not be executed at the expense of citizens’ rights and the rule of law.
