In 2006, Adekola Akinleye believed he had done everything right to secure a stable future. He purchased a plot of land in the Lafiaji area of Eti-Osa Local Government in Lagos State from the Ojomu chieftaincy family, ensuring that his Deed of Assignment and Certificate of Occupancy were in order, and verifying that the land was not under government acquisition.
However, 18 years later, on May 10, his life took a drastic turn when a neighbor informed him that officials from the Federal Ministry of Works had marked his home, along with more than 80 others, for demolition.
Authorities sent a letter instructing Mr. Akinleye to submit proof of ownership to the Permanent Secretary of the Land Bureau in Alausa, Ikeja, as his property was allegedly within the right-of-way for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project. Yet, Mr. Akinleye, a senior citizen like many of his neighbors, maintained that his house did not encroach on the highway’s right-of-way.
He pointed out that the original alignment had been clearly defined by the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and officially documented by the Federal Ministry of Works and other agencies as early as 2006 and 2013, leaving him confused by this sudden threat.
As an octogenarian and retiree, Mr. Akinleye was aware of the coastal road project and took care to purchase a property outside the established Right of Way to avoid any issues.
He emphasized that neither state nor federal authorities had ever informed him of any changes to the alignment. It wasn’t until May 2024, when the unexpected demolition notice arrived, that he learned of the new alignment, leaving him in shock.
“I can hardly find words to describe the emotional trauma my family experienced when we got the demolition notice. My wife and I were in the U.S. when it arrived on May 10, just seven days after we left Nigeria on May 3 for medical reasons. We had to return home immediately, abandoning our medical check-ups and risking our health.
“As an 83-year-old retired government worker who served for 25 years, I expected to spend my remaining years in peace. My wife, 77, and I did not foresee this kind of turmoil,” he said.
Another resident, Jude Majekodunmi, also expressed deep anxiety over the uncertain future facing his family. His distress is heightened by a pre-existing leg condition, which makes the situation even more troubling.
