The Coalition for Land Rights Advocacy in Nigeria has announced its intent to take legal action against the Federal Government over alleged inadequate compensation for communities displaced by ongoing road construction projects.
Speaking exclusively to the press, Coalition Head Sola Enitan warned that if the Minister of Works, David Umahi, does not address their concerns, the coalition will pursue justice in court. “If the Minister of Works does not yield to our demands, we will go to court on behalf of the project-affected persons. They have briefed us to represent their interests,” Enitan stated.
The coalition claims the federal road project, presented as being in the public interest, has forcibly displaced numerous Nigerians, stripping them of homes, land, and livelihoods without fair compensation. Enitan emphasized that their intent to sue is delayed only due to procedural summonses issued by the House of Representatives, but he confirmed a court filing would follow if the government continues to evade their requests.
In a statement, Enitan criticized the government’s approach, describing it as “coercive” and alleging that the Ministry of Works has ignored over 65 formal correspondences highlighting compensation inadequacies. “Despite numerous communications, we have yet to receive a single response from the minister or even the ministry’s legal directorate,” he said.
According to the coalition, Senator Umahi has instead organized “politically charged” stakeholder meetings where displaced persons have reportedly faced “bullying and harassment” by ministry representatives. Videos circulating on social media purportedly show some of these confrontational interactions, further fueling public outcry.
The coalition is pressing for adherence to Sections 29 and 30 of the Land Use Act of 1978, which mandates intervention by the Land Use and Allocations Committee in compensation disputes. Enitan lamented that this statutory requirement has been ignored, as the ministry allegedly continues to pressure displaced residents into accepting substandard compensation packages.
In their latest efforts, project-affected persons (PAPs) filed a formal petition with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, which led to two summonses issued by the House Committee on Public Petitions. Yet, the coalition claims the minister has repeatedly refused to appear, with the committee’s chairman, Michael Etaba, issuing a third summons last week.
President Bola Tinubu’s intervention has been sought by the coalition in hopes of resolving the matter. Meanwhile, Umahi has announced that the budget for compensations along the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway has increased from N8 billion to N18 billion, with assurances that all eligible recipients would be paid within ten days. However, affected residents argue the allocated N18 billion falls far short of the true value of their properties.
As the coalition prepares to escalate the matter to court, many await a resolution, hoping for fair compensation and justice for the displaced communities.