Nigerians in the Diaspora have urged the Federal Government and the National Assembly to investigate allegations of a diversion on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, specifically between Chainage 17 and 18.
They claim that this diversion negatively impacts their investment in WinHome Global Estate, which was not included in the original road alignment.
At a press conference held at the Lagos Continental Hotel, the spokesperson for the group, who is also the Managing Director of Winhomes Global Services, Stella Okengwu, expressed her disappointment.
She highlighted that Winhomes Estate was established to attract investment from the diaspora, with a goal of repatriating $250 million and creating 5,000 jobs for Nigerian youth.
Okengwu commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration for its efforts to stabilize the economy and encourage investment, particularly through infrastructural projects like the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road. However, she voiced concerns over changes made to the project’s alignment, arguing that the alterations are unjustified and infringe upon the rights of legitimate property owners.
“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road was originally planned and regulated by the 2006 gazette. The recent diversion affects our estate at Okun-Ajah. The Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi, previously assured in public meetings that the road alignment would follow the original plan. It is troubling that he has now made changes without adequate explanation,” Okengwu stated.
She further dismissed the justification for the diversion, which allegedly aimed to avoid elevated telecommunications cables, clarifying that the cables are located several kilometers away from the Winhomes estate. Okengwu emphasized that her company holds all the necessary legal documents, including a Certificate of Occupancy and Governor’s Consent,
