Coastal Road: Sanwo-Olu’s men declare war on FG task force? Concerned citizens raise alarm, seek Tinubu’s urgent intervention

A group of concerned citizens has raised the alarm over an alleged confrontation between officials of the Lagos State Government and personnel of a Federal Government task force working on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, accusing state officials of attempting to obstruct and intimidate the federal team and calling for urgent intervention by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

In a statement dated September 10, 2026, and signed by Ismaila Alimi, a Lagosian and coordinator of the concerned citizens, the group alleged that officials of the Lagos State Government, acting under the direction of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had moved to undermine the Federal Government task force established to protect and recover federal landed properties and enforce the approved coastal highway setback.

The statement specifically mentioned CSP Shola Jejeloye of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, CSP Tayo Akerele of the Lagos State Task Force, Dr Jide Abiodun, Special Adviser to the Governor on eGIS and Urban Development, and Bldr Omolola Florence Gbaye of the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

The group said the Federal Government had publicly maintained that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was a federal infrastructure project, with the relevant federal authorities, particularly the Surveyor-General of the Federation, responsible for survey coordination, federal reservations and Right-of-Way enforcement.

According to the concerned citizens, tension escalated following alleged incidents on September 4 and September 7, 2026, involving Lagos State officials and personnel of the Federal Government task force at locations around Kuramo, Victoria Island, Mayegun Coastal Road and Ilasan in Eti-Osa.

“According to eyewitness accounts, Lagos State officials accompanied by a substantial police contingent reportedly visited locations at Kuramo, Victoria Island; Mayegun Coastal Road; and Ilasan, Eti-Osa, where Federal Government Task Force personnel had been operating,” the statement alleged.

The group further claimed that the Lagos officials specifically sought the Head of the Federal Task Force, identified as Mr Boomelin, allegedly with the intention of arresting or intimidating him, while personnel attached to the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation were reportedly subjected to threats and intimidation.

It said the alleged confrontation took another dimension on September 7, when Lagos State officials reportedly returned to some of the affected properties, forcibly entered portions of the land and erected real-estate billboards despite the presence of the Federal Task Force and its security arrangements.

“Even more disturbing are allegations that, on 7 September 2026, Lagos State officials returned to the affected properties, forcibly entered portions of the land and erected real-estate billboards despite the Federal Task Force’s occupation and security arrangements,” the statement said.

The concerned citizens argued that if the allegations were established, the matter would go beyond an ordinary dispute over land and would raise questions about the relationship between federal and state authorities.

They asked who authorised the deployment of armed police personnel to properties described as federal, who approved the alleged attempt to arrest or intimidate federal task force personnel, and who authorised the alleged entry and erection of advertisements on the affected properties.

“If established, these actions go beyond an ordinary land dispute. They constitute a direct challenge to the authority of the Federal Government and raise the alarming question of whether officials of a State Government can deploy security personnel to frustrate officers acting under a federal mandate,” the group stated.

The group also demanded clarification over reports it said had been attributed to a senior Lagos State official that the Federal Government had no land in Lagos State and that federal land was vested in the governor.

It described the reported position, if accurately reported, as a serious matter requiring immediate clarification.

According to the group, the dispute had now raised broader questions concerning constitutional authority, Federal-State relations, compliance with lawful government directives and the management of federal property.

‘Land corruption’ concerns

The concerned citizens said the Federal Government’s intervention followed concerns over alleged encroachment, unauthorised allocations, questionable documentation, multiple claims of title, fraudulent transactions, land grabbing and poor management of government assets.

They said the task force was established to assist with survey verification, recovery of federal properties, protection of federal Rights-of-Way and enforcement of approved coastal and highway setbacks.

“If the Task Force has uncovered irregularities in land allocations or documentation, the answer cannot be intimidation, force or unilateral occupation,” the group said, calling instead for investigation, verification and lawful resolution through the appropriate federal institutions.

The statement further warned that the situation could degenerate from a land-management dispute into a confrontation between federal and state authorities if urgent steps were not taken.

The group therefore appealed to President Tinubu, as President and Commander-in-Chief, to intervene before the situation escalated.

It called for the immediate withdrawal of any Lagos State security personnel allegedly deployed to federal landed properties under dispute and demanded protection for Federal Task Force personnel and officials attached to the Surveyor-General of the Federation.

It also asked the President to direct that no further construction, development, occupation, demolition or advertisement be allowed on the affected properties pending verification and resolution.

The group demanded an investigation into the alleged deployment of armed security personnel against officers operating under federal authority and urged security agencies to remain neutral.

It further called for comprehensive verification and demarcation of the affected properties and coastal highway reservations by the Surveyor-General of the Federation.

Group warns against Federal-State showdown

The concerned citizens said any Lagos State official found to have abused public office, unlawfully occupied government land, facilitated irregular allocations or obstructed lawful federal operations should face the consequences of the law.

“Lagos State is an integral part of Nigeria, but it is not a separate republic,” the statement said.

The group stressed that Lagos State and the Federal Government were expected to work together within their respective constitutional and statutory powers, warning that no governor, commissioner, special adviser, agency head, police officer or other public official should turn a legitimate land dispute into a contest of political strength.

It also demanded answers on who authorised the alleged actions, why they were undertaken and under what legal authority, particularly if public security resources were used to interfere with federal government operations.

“We therefore urge the President to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves before an avoidable confrontation escalates. Nigeria cannot afford a situation in which Federal officers are intimidated while performing a presidential assignment on Federal infrastructure and property,” the group said.

The concerned citizens clarified that their call was not aimed at provoking confrontation with the Lagos State Government, but at demanding what they described as law, order, accountability and respect for constitutional authority.

“The objective is not confrontation with Lagos State,” the statement said. “The objective is to ensure that no individual or government official is above the Constitution, and that no Federal Government property is converted into a battleground for political influence or private interests.”

The group urged members of the public to remain calm while competent authorities investigate the allegations and work to restore order.