Lagos coastal road: Citizen seeks Tinubu’s intervention over ‘obstruction of federal task force’

A concerned citizen from Eti-Osa Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos state, Ismaila Alimi, has raised the alarm over an alleged confrontation between officials of the Lagos state government and a federal fovernment task force operating around portions of the Lagos Coastal Road.

Alimi, in a statement dated September 10, 2026, alleged that some Lagos State officials, accompanied by security personnel, had moved to obstruct, intimidate and undermine members of the Federal task force reportedly mandated to recover and protect Federal landed properties and enforce the approved setback for the coastal highway.

He specifically named 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, among others.

Alimi alleged that the development followed the Federal Government’s position that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a Federal infrastructure project, with relevant Federal authorities responsible for issues relating to Federal reservations, survey coordination and Right-of-Way enforcement.

According to him, on September 4, 2026, Lagos state officials, accompanied by a substantial police contingent, visited locations at Kuramo, Victoria Island; Mayegun Coastal Road; and Ilasan, Eti-Osa, where members of the Federal task force were operating.

He alleged that the officials searched for the head of the Federal task force, identified as Mr Boomelin, allegedly with the intention of arresting or intimidating him.

He further claimed that personnel attached to the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation were subjected to threats during the encounter.

Alimi alleged that the Lagos officials returned to some of the affected properties on September 7, where they allegedly forced their way into portions of the land and erected real-estate billboards despite the presence of Federal task force personnel and security arrangements.

Describing the development as potentially more serious than an ordinary land dispute, he said the allegations, if established, could have implications for federal-state relations and the exercise of constitutional and statutory authority.

He questioned who authorised the alleged deployment of armed police personnel to properties under Federal protection and who sanctioned the alleged attempt to arrest or intimidate Federal task force personnel.

Alimi also demanded clarification over alleged claims 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.

He said such a position, if accurately reported, required clarification by the relevant authorities.

On the underlying land dispute, Alimi alleged that the Federal intervention followed concerns over possible encroachment, unauthorised allocations, questionable documentation, multiple claims of title, fraudulent transactions, land grabbing and alleged poor management of government assets.

He argued that where irregularities were suspected, the appropriate response should be investigation and verification by competent authorities rather than confrontation.

Alimi appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene urgently to prevent the matter from escalating into a Federal-State confrontation.

Among his demands, he called for the withdrawal of any Lagos state security personnel allegedly deployed to the affected Federal properties and the protection of Federal task force personnel and officials attached to the Surveyor-General of the Federation.

He also urged that further construction, development, occupation, demolition or advertisement on the disputed properties be halted pending proper verification.

Alimi further called for an investigation into the alleged deployment of security personnel against officials operating under Federal authority.

He urged the Surveyor-General of the Federation to conduct comprehensive verification and demarcation of the affected properties and the coastal highway reservations.

“Lagos State is an integral part of Nigeria, but it is not a separate republic,” he said, stressing that the state government should work with the Federal Government within their respective constitutional and statutory powers.

He urged the federal government to establish who authorised the alleged actions, why they were undertaken and under what legal authority.

Alimi stressed that his intervention was not aimed at promoting confrontation with the Lagos state government but at ensuring accountability and respect for constitutional authority.

He appealed to residents and stakeholders to remain calm while the relevant authorities investigate the allegations and take appropriate steps to resolve the matter.