The Okun Ajah Community Development Association, the apex body of indigenes and residents of Okun Ajah in the Eti Osa Local Government area of Lagos State, has raised the alarm over an alleged diversion of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Expressway into their community.
The community alleged that the road was diverted from the 2006 Gazetted Coastal Road Alignment to favour some set of persons.
The body in a statement sent to PUNCH Metroon Tuesday and signed by its chairman, Isah Noibi and secretary, Yusuf Odunuga, called for an investigation into the matter.
While noting that the people of Okun Ajah were aware of the intention of the Lagos State and Federal Government to construct a coastal road nearly 30 years ago, they stated that the community did not encroach on the Approved Establishment Right of Way for the road.
The statement read in part, “We are writing this open letter because the people and residents of Okun Ajah are being threatened with an illegal demolition of their properties, lifelong investment, houses, and estates, just for being law-abiding.
“The Okun Ajah town in Eti Osa Local Government area of Lagos State is an ancient town with a history going back to over 500 years ago. The population of Okun Ajah comprising both indigenes and residents is substantially large and diverse
“The Okun Ajah people, most of whom are law-abiding people, became aware of the intention of the Lagos State and Federal Government of Nigeria to construct a coastal road nearly 30 years ago. We are also aware that the Coastal Road Alignment was gazetted and approved in 2006, while Your Excellency (Bola Tinubu) was the Governor of Lagos State.
“Multibillions of naira worth of investments of Nigerians in the Diaspora and lifelong investment and retirement plans of the Etisalat Workers Cooperative Society, Addax Petroleum Workers Cooperative and Seplat Energy will be affected by the diversion of the road.”
The group however alleged that the supposed favoured group of persons purchased lands on the coastal road to influence the diversion to other areas of the community that did not encroach into the Right of Way.
The community also clarified that no telecommunications cable was present in the community, which was said to have warranted the diversion.
“For clarification purposes, the Okun Ajah Alignment is at chainage 16+500 – 17+500, while the MTN cable is at chainage 24+500, which is at ShopRite Road, Okun Mopo about seven kilometres away from Okun-Ajah “They, therefore, appealed to the President to kindly direct the Minister of Works to comply with the 2006 Approved and Enacted Coastal Road Alignment and to stop further deviation from it,” the statement added.
When contacted on Tuesday, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olukorede Keisha, declined comments on the matter. “Direct your question to the Honourable Minister of Works, please,” she said.(Punch )
