Category: South West

  • Ondo youths protest rising cult activities

    Ondo youths protest rising cult activities

    • Demand justice for victims

    Scores of youths and indigenes of Ondo town yesterday trooped to the streets to stage a peaceful protest over the rising wave of cultism, drug abuse, violence and insecurity pervading the community.

    The protest, held across major streets of the town, led by the President of Ondo Kingdom Youth Forum, Mr Kayode Folayegun, was in response to the rising spate of cult-related killings and clashes in the town.

    The youth decried the activities of the proscribed cults, saying their activities had been threatening the peace of the community.

    Folayegun lamented the activities of the cults, demanding that urgent actions must be put in place to end violence.

    Calling for justice for slain youths that have fallen victims of the activities of the cults, he said people would not tolerate the continued silence of the government over the killings.

    “We can no longer fold our arms while our fellow youths are being murdered in cold blood. There must be consequences for these heinous crimes. Over 48 persons have died of cult-related killings and clashes,” Folayegun said.

    Olaitan Aseyege, a youth leader in the town, said cult-related activities and killings in the community had claimed  lives.

    Read Also: Cultists kill community’s deputy chairman in Rivers

    He called on security agencies and the government to intervene by ensuring peace and tranquillity were restored to the town.

    “What we are witnessing is heart-breaking. Our youths are being hunted down and executed. This carnage must stop,” he said, appealing to the security agencies for swift and decisive action.

    A community leader and former member of the House of Representatives in Ondo East/Ondo West, Joseph Akinlaja, hailed the youth for their resilience and asked them to be committed to the peace of the town.

    Akinlaja advised youths to stay away from crime, stressing that their roles in nation-building could not be underestimated.

  • Osun 2026: Why voters should reject Adeleke, PDP, by NIWA boss

    Osun 2026: Why voters should reject Adeleke, PDP, by NIWA boss

    • ‘People will not regret returning APC to power’

    The Managing Director of National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, has urged Osun State residents not to return Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or Governor Ademola Adeleke to power in the August 7, 2026 governorship election.

    He berated the PDP-led administration for allegedly mismanaging N1trillion of the federal allocation accruing to the state in the last 30 months.

    Oyebamiji, a leading governorship aspirant in the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday during his continued state-wide consultation held at Ife-South and Ife-North local governments, said Osun State had been receiving over 300 per cent increased allocation, compared to what was received during the tenure of former Governor Gboyega Oyetola, yet there was no corresponding development in the state.

    A chieftain of the APC, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has said the electorate would not regret returning the party to power in the August 8, 2026, governorship election.

    He said this during a consultation visit by one of the party’s aspirants, Oyebamiji, to Obokun Local Government.

    He said the party is prepared to meet the expectations of the electorate based on the needs assessment of the previous administration, as documented by the civic engagement agency.

    Oyintiloye, who served as a Special Adviser to former Governor Oyetola, in the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, led the “Osun Civic Engagement” the agency that was established by the former governor to bridge the gap between the people and government, especially in the area of policy formulation.

    He said that this was to assist the government in responding quickly to people’s needs.

    Speaking further at the event attended by many bigwigs of the party in Obokun Local Government and beyond yesterday, he urged the electorate to support the party during the election.

    “The blueprint to hit the ground running is already documented towards the expiration of the Oyetola’s administration and our incoming governor will definitely have a solid start with that document and his other initiatives that are already being fine-tuned”, he said.

    He said the affairs of the state had been run aground under the current government, as manifested in the poor funding of education, health, infrastructure and key sectors in the state.

    Read Also: Adeleke blames lack of foreign investment in Nigeira on poor electoral process

    He said: ‘’Today, Osun is earning more than 300 per cent of what it used to get and everyone can attest that what is on ground is not commensurate with the massive earning. Osun has received close to N1trillion in the last 30 months of Governor Adeleke, yet the state has not been able to recruit teachers and health workers to improve the well-being of the citizens.”

    The NIWA boss implored members of the APC to mobilise people for the Continuous Voter Registration and collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) begins registration and PVC distribution.

    APC leaders including former member, Osun State House of Assembly, Rufus Ajibodu, ex-Commissioner for Education, Folorunso Bamisayemi and Chairman of APC Local Government Chairmen, Elder Rufus Awotidoye, declared support for Oyebamiji.

    Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, an ex-lawmaker, during the consultation by Oyebamiji at the weekend, held in Obokun, said the electorate in Osun State would not regret returning APC to power in 2026.

    He said the party was prepared to meet the expectations of the electorate.

  • Lawyer kicks as Aiyedatiwa seeks constitutional backing for 33 LCDAs

    Lawyer kicks as Aiyedatiwa seeks constitutional backing for 33 LCDAs

    The move by Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to secure constitutional backing for the 33 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) has again been rejected.

    The latest development came as a lawyer, Tolu Babaleye, represented by a legal firm, kicked against Aiyedatiwa’s position to have legal backing for the 33 LCDAs.

    The governor had last Friday at the public hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, held in Akure, appealed to the Committee on the Constitution Amendment to recommend the inclusion of newly-created LCDAs in the proposed constitution.

    Governor Aiyedatiwa said it was the interest of the government and people of the state that additional local governments be created in the state, citing how Lagos State LCDAs were being proposed for inclusion in the constitution as full-fledged local governments.

    “In Ondo State, we have functional 33 LCDAs duly created by the state government. We strongly advocate that the proposed bill be expanded and these 33 LCDAs in Ondo State be recognised as full-fledged local governments in the First Schedule of the Constitution,” he told the committee.

    Recall that the House of Assembly had passed the bill for the creation of 33 additional councils to co-exist with the 18 local governments of the state on August 15, 2023.

    Read Also: I’m in office to project Aiyedatiwa’s administration

    In September 2023, former Governor Rotimi Akeredolu signed the bill into law, a day after his return from three months medical leave – but the decision sparked crisis, with some communities and the opposition parties in the state rejecting the development, prompting legal tussle.

    The Akure Division of the High Court in the state had in June 2024 nullified the creation of the additional 33 LCDAs.

    Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye of the State High Court, who gave the verdict, had held that it was illegal for a governor (the late Akeredolu) to sign a law outside the state he or she governed.

    Adebusuoye said the LG Creation Law 2023, which birthed the 33 LCDAs, stood nullified because the late Akeredolu signed the law in Ibadan, Oyo State, and not on Ondo soil.

    But addressing reporters at the weekend, Babaleye, represented by the legal firm through a counsel, Beckiston Ataine, accused the state government led by Aiyedatiwa of attempting to bypass the court’s ruling by lobbying members of the National Assembly for the inclusion of the 33 LCDAs in Nigeria’s Constitution.

    He described the LCDAs as “legally non-existent, as dead as fried plantains,” emphasising that the state’s continued recognition of the councils flouts the rule of law.

    Ataine, who also represented the aggrieved residents of Akoko land, underscored the High Court’s landmark judgment that declared the creation of the 33 LCDAs illegal, null and void.

    The lawyer recalls how the High Court had also ruled that the process for the creation of the 33 LCDAs was lopsided, disproportionately marginalising communities, particularly in Akoko land, in favour of others.

    “The legal battle began when Akoko land residents, feeling short-changed by the uneven distribution of the LCDAs, sought redress in court.

    “However, the state government’s response has been less than forthcoming. Although it filed an appeal against the judgment, no substantial progress has been made,” he said.

    The law firm revealed that “the government failed to submit its brief of argument after reluctantly transmitting appeal records out of time, suggesting the appeal was merely a ploy to delay the enforcement of the court’s decision.

    “Further compounding the issue, the state government applied for a stay of execution, a move Ataine dismissed as futile since declarative judgments, like the one nullifying the LCDAs, cannot be stayed under Nigerian law.

    “The government’s actions show a blatant disregard for the judiciary,” Ataine said, expressing dismay that ‘’the state has continued to treat the LCDAs as legitimate entities, allocating resources and administrative functions to them despite their nullification. We are not here to clash with the government but to ensure justice prevails.”

    He urged the people of Akoko to remain peaceful while the firm takes steps to formally advise the National Assembly on the legal status of the LCDAs.

    “The judgment of the Ondo State High Court remains sacrosanct, and we call on the state government to respect it in the interest of harmony and fairness.”

  • Okeigbo Obaship tussle: Appeal Court admits fresh evidence

    Okeigbo Obaship tussle: Appeal Court admits fresh evidence

    The Akure Division of the Court of Appeal has admitted fresh evidence in the crisis rocking the chieftaincy stool of Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo in Ile-Oluji/ Oke-Igbo Local Government of Ondo State.

    The stool has been rocked by crisis after Justice Ademola Enikuomehin of the Ondo Division of the State High Court on April 13, 2023, nullified Oba Babajide Oluwole’s appointment as the right traditional ruler for the title.

    The court decision follows a suit filed by two princes from Aare Kugbaigbe Ruling House, Prince Rufus Adekanye and Prince Temitope Adeoye, head and secretary of the house.

    The ruling house had sought declaration that Oluwole is not a member of Kugbaigbe Ruling House, noting that it is its turn to produce candidate to fill the vacant stool.

    But at the weekend, the lead counsel for the appellants, Olalekan Ojo SAN, sought leave to amend his notice of appeal, adducing new evidence of the registered declaration of the chieftaincy.

    He also applied for injunction to restrain the respondents from taking steps to appoint a new Olu-oke and that all actions taken in that direction be vacated by the court.

    Adeola Yusuf, counsel representing the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo SAN, who appeared in the matter for the first time, informed the court that she was yet to be properly briefed on the processes of the case.

    The led counsel for Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House, Chief Sola Ebiseni, argued that the application to adduce evidence of the registered declaration made by the appellants in 2020 when the case ended at the High Court since 2018 was legally inadmissible and a waste of time hearing the appeal.

    Ebiseni also reminded the Appeal Court that the High Court had set aside the appointment of Chief Oluwole as Olu-Oke of Oke-Igbo by describing his ascension as ‘illegal’

    Read Also: Court orders UNILAG to reinstate sacked lecturer

    He said the court had ordered the government to invite the Are Kugbaigbe Ruling House to present a candidate for the vacant throne, saying the deposed Oba filed his notice of appeal, after which he died on April 30, 2025, at the age of 94. 

    The counsel, however, described the application for injunction as an act of indolence, pleading with the court to also disregard the appellants who refused to prosecute their appeal but ask the court to act in vain.

    However, the Appeal Court presided over by Justices Omoleye, Shagari, and Obiorah observed that the appeal was of much of public interest, admitting that the hearing had been delayed despite opportunities granted by the court and ruled out all applications for joining the appeal as interested parties.

    The appeal court granted the application to amend the notice of appeal and directed the counsel to the appellants to proffer arguments on the new evidence sought to be adduced in his amended brief.

    It, however, declined hearing the motion for injunction and ruled that it is “put in abeyance”, urging counsel for the parties should ensure that their clients take no steps that may breach the peace of the community.

    The case was later adjourned for further hearing till October 20.

  • PDP governorship aspirant fixes portion of Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba Road

    PDP governorship aspirant fixes portion of Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba Road

    A governorship aspirant in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose, has brought relief to motorists and commuters plying Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba Road by repairing the deplorable portions of the road.

    The road, which links Ekiti to Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had been in a terrible condition, causing suffering for road users.

    Fayose, who had travelled from Abuja to Ekiti through the road, was moved by the plight of the motorists and commuters and decided to intervene.

    He provided trucks loaded with stones and fixed the badly damaged portions of the road, thereby making it accessible for motorists.

    Speaking in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the PDP chieftain lamented the deplorable condition of federal roads in the state, saying the sufferings of the people had become unbearable.

    Read Also: Abia PDP guber aspirant’s meeting with Abure sparks defection rumours

    He said: “I travelled in from Abuja last Wednesday. I decided to come by road to have a feeling of what the people are feeling. I discovered that the road is very bad. On getting to Ilumoba I realised that the road is very bad, and there are many trucks, buses and vehicles stuck on the road, they could not move.

    “When I alighted from my car to view the portions, some of the drivers and other road users told me they have been sleeping there for five, six days to one week, sleeping on the floor with mosquitoes biting them. Some of them are on business trips carrying goods; some are even carrying perishable goods. They cannot deliver them, and they cannot reunite with their families.

    “Moved by the ugly situation, I promised to fix the road so that it can be accessible for them, and it is the promise I have come to fulfil today. We are not in government, but just to help road users in our own little way,” he said.

    The governorship aspirant appealed to the Federal Government to rehabilitate dilapidated roads in the state.

  • Speaker felicitates Alaafin at 50

    Speaker felicitates Alaafin at 50

    Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, at the weekend joined dignitaries, traditional rulers, political leaders and well-wishers at Olivet Baptist High School, Oyo town, to celebrate the 50th birthday of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade.

    Accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Olamidun Ogundoyin, the Speaker described the golden jubilee of the revered monarch as a significant milestone in the history of the ancient Oyo Kingdom, noting that the new Alaafin had shown signs of purpose-driven leadership and royal grace.

    Read Also: Alaafin mourns Awujale, describes late monarch as visionary leader

    In his goodwill message at the celebration, Ogundoyin congratulated the Alaafin on turning 50 in good health and high esteem.

    He prayed for divine wisdom akin to that of King Solomon to guide the monarch in his reign.

    The Speaker reaffirmed the commitment of the House of Assembly to support traditional institutions and work with the Alaafin and other royal fathers to foster grassroots development and preserve Yoruba custom and tradition.

    The event was attended by monarchs, government officials, members of the Oyo Mesi, lawmakers, political stakeholders and citizens from across the state and beyond.

  • Osun 2026: Why Osun should reject Adeleke, PDP, by NIWA boss

    Osun 2026: Why Osun should reject Adeleke, PDP, by NIWA boss

    • …electorate will not regret returning APC to power — Osun ex-lawmaker 
    • …urges APC loyalists to mobilise for PVCs collection, registration 

    The Managing Director of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) and leading Osun State governorship aspirant, Asiwaju Bola Oyebamiji, has called on residents of the state to vote out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Governor Ademola Adeleke in the upcoming August 7, 2026, governorship election.

    Oyebamiji accused the current PDP-led administration of mismanaging nearly N1 trillion in federal allocations received over the last 30 months. 

    He made the remarks on Sunday during his ongoing state-wide consultations in Ife-South and Ife-North local government areas.

    According to him, Osun State has received over 300% more in federal allocation compared to what was received during the administration of former Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, yet there has been no visible development to match the revenue increase.

    “Today, Osun is earning more than 300 percent of what it used to get, but what is on the ground does not reflect the massive earnings. In the last 30 months, nearly N1 trillion has come into the state, yet the government cannot recruit teachers or health workers,” Oyebamiji said.

    Read Also: Adeleke sad over council crisis, says commissioner

    He further criticized the current administration for what he described as poor funding in key sectors such as education, healthcare, and infrastructure, warning that the state’s affairs have been run aground.

    Oyebamiji urged members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to mobilize for the upcoming Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) and ensure the collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) as soon as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) begins the process.

    Several APC leaders, including former House of Assembly member Hon. Rufus Ademola Ajibodu, ex-Commissioner for Education Hon. Folorunso Bamisayemi, and APC local government chairmen led by Elder Rufus Awotidoye, declared their full support for Oyebamiji’s governorship bid.

    Similarly, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, expressed confidence during a separate consultation event in Obokun on Saturday, saying Osun residents will not regret returning APC to power on August 8, 2026. 

    He noted that the party is prepared to deliver on citizens’ expectations using the needs assessment from the previous administration’s civic engagement efforts.

  • YEEP empower 80 Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs

    YEEP empower 80 Young Nigerian Entrepreneurs

    Eighty young Nigerians have received scholarships and empowerment awards through the National Youth Entrepreneurship and Empowerment Summit (YEEP’25), an initiative of Activate Success International Foundation, a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) committed to youth development.

    The summit, held in Abuja, brought together over 2,300 young participants, including current and former members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), and marked the 10th anniversary of the Foundation. 

    The event was aimed at equipping young Nigerians with essential tools, mentorship, and access to funding to grow their ventures and contribute to national economic development.

    As part of the empowerment, over 50 youths were awarded ₦500,000 each, while three others received ₦1 million each. Additionally, 40 youths with tailoring skills were gifted brand new sewing machines to boost their trade.

    Read Also: Celebrities grace YEEP event

    In a show of widespread support, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, donated ₦500,000 each to 37 youths. Crown Luxury Properties extended similar support to 8 corps members in Abuja with ₦500,000 each.

    Corporate and political stakeholders also joined in the empowerment drive. Nestlé Nigeria awarded ₦1 million each to 3 youths, while Hon. Desmond Elliot, who represents Surulere State Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, supported 4 youths with ₦500,000 each.

    Further, the Director General of the Rochas Foundation, Ucy Rochas, donated ₦1.2 million to support 2 youths, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) pledged ₦500,000 each to 5 beneficiaries.

    The summit highlighted a growing commitment among public and private sector leaders to empower the next generation of Nigerian entrepreneurs and change-makers.

    She said: “In a country where over 53% of young Nigerians between the ages of 18

    and 35 are either unemployed or underemployed, the urgency of youth

    empowerment cannot be overstated. The consequences of untapped potential are far-reaching, not just economically, but socially and nationally.

    “When young minds are disengaged, we create fertile ground for frustration, insecurity, and social unrest. But when they are equipped with skills, vision, and opportunity, they become builders of peace, engines of innovation, and pillars of national growth. 

    “This is the heart of YEEP: to bridge the gap between potential and productivity, and to ensure that every young Nigerian has the chance not just to survive, but to thrive. This gathering is not just another entry on the national calendar. It is a clear and collective statement: that the future of Nigeria is not only discussing, it is worth building, together. 

    “Young people are not just the future of this nation; they are its greatest asset today. With over 70% of Nigeria’s population under the age of 35, the strength of our nation lies not in its oil or minerals, but in the creativity, resilience, and brilliance of its youth. I believe this not because it is fashionable, but because I have lived it.”

    Speaking at the event, the Deputy Speaker,Benjamin Kalu commended the youth for their innovative abilities, saying that the future belongs to them. 

    He said: “Start early in whatever you want to become. There will be distraction but be focused. Don’t waste your youthful age. And this opportunity offered to you today is an opportunity that so many youths have been looking for. Out of the millions of youths in Nigeria, you were selected to be here. Count yourselves to be blessed. You were chosen out of a whole lot, that is what has distinguished you. 

    “If everyone here believes that they are blessed, then we have the energy of the youths that will transform this nation and that is what activating success is all about: to inspire and motivate to greater heights. Truly, this nation belongs to those who have the kind of energy that you have because of the power of your mind, the power of your innovative ability. 

    “Let’s invest it towards transforming our nation. The Renewed Hope Partners (RHP) with my office will partner with Activate Success International Foundation to give grants to selected youths from across the 36 States including the FCT. You will be having something from us”.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Poverty Alleviation, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda who spoke about the efforts of the government to improve the lives of the citizenry also enjoined the youths not to lose hope but believe in the country.

    “To all the youths who are here, I want to say that you should be focused. Don’t get distracted. The economy is large. The opportunity is huge and I pray all of you will blossom in this country. Let’s work together. The government is with you. God bless you”, he said.

    For the Youth Skills and Economic Empowerment Officer of UNDP, Katherine Ibrahim, the Department will continue to support Medium Scales Enterprises.

    “Youth entrepreneurship is not just an economic tool, it is a force for inclusive growth, dignity and national transformation. This is why the UNDP is proud to support youth led MSMEs through several impactful programmes. 

    “Through the Nigerian Jubilee fellows, which I think is really relevant to our national youth coppers today, we have also placed over 10,000 youths in jobs. These youths also gets paid by UNDP as a support to the challenge of youth unemployment in Nigeria. Beyond this national initiatives, we are especially excited to announce that as part of our commitment to this program and also to youth-led MSMEs in general in Nigeria, we will be supporting 5 MSMEs with 500,000 Naira as matching funding to help scale their businesses and deepen their community impact. 

    “We do this because we believe that when young people rise, communities are strengthened and nations move forward. So, to every young person here, your ideas are powerful and your solutions are shaping the future of Nigeria. UNDP stands with you as enablers, and most importantly, because we believe in your potential. So, thank you to Activate Success for organizing such an event to showcase our youths”, she said.

  • Fayose repairs Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba road

    Fayose repairs Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba road

    A governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose, has brought relief to motorists and commuters plying the Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba road by repairing the deplorable portions of the road. 

    The road, which links Ekiti to Kogi State and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, had been in a terrible state, causing suffering for road users.

    Fayose, who had travelled from Abuja to Ekiti through the road, was moved by the plight of the motorists and commuters and decided to intervene.

    He provided trucks loaded with hardcore stones and levelled the badly damaged portions of the road, thereby making it accessible for motorists.

    Speaking in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital on Sunday, the PDP chieftain lamented the deplorable condition of federal roads in the state, saying the sufferings of the people have become unbearable.

    He said: “I travelled in from Abuja on Wednesday. I decided to come by road to have a feeling of what the people are feeling. I discovered that the road is very bad. On getting to Ilumoba I realised that the road was very bad, and there were many trucks, buses, and vehicles stuck on the road, and they could not move.

    “When I alighted from my car to view the portions, some of the drivers and other road users told me they have been sleeping there for five, six days to one week, sleeping on the floor with mosquitoes biting them. Some of them are on business trips carrying goods and products, some are even carrying perishable goods. They cannot deliver them, and they cannot reunite with their families.

    “Moved by the ugly situation, I promised to fix the road so that it can be accessible for them, and it is the promise that I have come to fulfil today. We are not in government but just to help the road users in our own little way,” he said.

    He appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and rehabilitate dilapidated roads in the state to reduce sufferings of the people.

    “In Ekiti, we don’t have good roads, no electricity, no water. It is quite unfortunate; if you come through Abuja, as you can see, this road is very bad. If you come through Aramoko, it is the same thing, same story everywhere.

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    “This is the road leading to Ekiti airport, and the facility has been under lock and key. The federal government should come to our aid.

    “I am using this medium to appeal to our President, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to look into our situation in Ekiti State. Our people are suffering,” Fayose stated.

    A stranded truck driver, Abdullahi Kamilu, expressed gratitude to Fayose, saying that the road was very bad and that the federal government should assist in fixing it.

    Another stranded truck driver, Mr Taiwo Ishola, commended Fayose’s efforts, saying that good roads were essential for the enjoyment of democracy. 

    Mr Tunde Adejumo, a traveller returning from Kaduna to Lagos, said that he had spent over a week on the road due to the deplorable state of the road and praised Fayose’s initiative.

  • #JusticeforCoastalRoad: Protesters demand compensation for demolition victims

    #JusticeforCoastalRoad: Protesters demand compensation for demolition victims

    A coalition of protesters under the banner of the Coalition of Concerned Individuals staged a peaceful demonstration in Lagos, demanding fair and adequate compensation for property owners affected by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

    The protest, held on Thursday, July 17, drew attention to the plight of residents and business owners whose properties were demolished to make way for the multi-billion-naira infrastructure initiative.

    Protesters decried the lack of transparency, insufficient compensation, and what they described as government indifference to the human cost of the project.

    Speaking during the protest, the Coalition’s spokesperson, Mr. Shina Loremika, criticised the government’s handling of the demolitions, accusing it of flouting due process and dispossessing citizens without adequate restitution.

    “The government cannot continue to treat people like statistics. You cannot take over private property without proper compensation. It is unjust, it is unconstitutional, and it must be addressed,” Loremika stated.

    Read Also: Buhari family expresses gratitude to Tinubu, Nigerians, global leaders for outpouring of support

    The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to connect multiple southern states via a strategic coastal route, has faced mounting criticism for how demolitions have been carried out.

    Civil society organisations and community members have pointed to widespread displacement and financial losses.

    Earlier protests had erupted in the Okun-Ajah area of Lagos, where residents and business owners accused the government of forcibly evicting people without proper dialogue or compensation mechanisms in place.

    As legal battles continue in court, affected individuals and rights groups insist they will not back down until the government offers justice and relief to those impacted.

    The #JusticeForCoastalRoad campaign has since gained traction online, with thousands of Nigerians calling for accountability, transparency, and a more humane approach to national development.