LAGOS, Nigeria – A group of concerned Lagos residents has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in an alleged confrontation between officials of the Lagos State Government and a Federal Government task force working on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The group, in a statement dated September 10, 2026, and signed by its coordinator, Ismaila Alimi, alleged that some Lagos State officials attempted to obstruct and intimidate members of the federal task force involved in protecting and recovering federal landed properties along the coastal highway corridor, reports The Guardian.
It specifically named CSP Shola Jejeloye of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, CSP Tayo Akerele of the Lagos State Task Force, the governor’s Special Adviser on eGIS and Urban Development, Dr Jide Abiodun, and Bldr Omolola Florence Gbaye of the Lagos State Building Control Agency.
The group claimed that tension escalated on September 4 and 7 following alleged encounters between 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 the statement, Lagos officials, accompanied by a substantial police contingent, visited some of the locations where federal task force personnel were operating.
The group further alleged that the officials sought the head of the task force, identified as Mr Boomelin, allegedly with the intention of arresting or intimidating him.
It also claimed that personnel attached to the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation were subjected to threats and intimidation during the incidents.
The group alleged that on September 7, Lagos officials returned to some of the disputed properties, entered portions of the land and erected real-estate billboards despite the presence of federal task force personnel and their security arrangements.
“If established, these actions go beyond an ordinary land dispute,” the group said, arguing that such conduct would raise questions about the authority of state officials to interfere with personnel operating under a federal mandate.
The group also demanded clarification over an alleged position 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 said the reported position, if accurately attributed, required clarification in view of the constitutional and statutory responsibilities of the Federal Government over its properties and infrastructure.
‘Land corruption’ concerns
The group said the federal intervention was linked to concerns over alleged encroachment, unauthorised allocations, questionable documentation, multiple claims of title, fraudulent transactions and other irregularities involving government-owned land.
It said the task force was expected to assist with survey verification, recovery of federal properties, protection of federal rights-of-way and enforcement of approved setbacks for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The group, however, stressed that any dispute over ownership or allocation of land should be resolved through lawful investigation and verification rather than confrontation.
It warned that the reported incidents could escalate into a broader Federal-State dispute if not urgently addressed.
The group consequently urged Tinubu to investigate the allegations and ensure the protection of federal officials and personnel working on the project.
It also called for the withdrawal of any state security personnel allegedly deployed to the disputed federal properties and demanded that further construction, development, occupation, demolition or advertisement on the affected sites be halted pending verification.
It further urged the Surveyor-General of the Federation to conduct a comprehensive verification and demarcation of the affected properties and coastal highway reservations.
Group warns against Federal-State confrontation
The group said any public official found to have abused office, unlawfully occupied government property, facilitated irregular land allocations or obstructed lawful federal operations should face the law.
“Lagos State is an integral part of Nigeria, but it is not a separate republic,” it said.
The group maintained that the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government should operate within their respective constitutional and statutory powers, warning against turning a land dispute into a contest of political strength.
“We therefore urge the President to treat the matter with the seriousness it deserves before an avoidable confrontation escalates,” the group said.
It added that its intervention was not intended to provoke a confrontation with the Lagos State Government but to demand what it described as accountability, respect for constitutional authority and proper management of government property.
The group urged members of the public to remain calm while competent authorities investigate the allegations and work towards resolving the dispute.
