A concerned citizen from Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Ismaila Alimi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in an alleged dispute between Federal Government officials and Lagos State authorities over activities along parts of the Lagos Coastal Road.
Alimi, in a statement dated September 10, 2026, alleged that officials of the Lagos State Government had attempted to obstruct the work of a Federal Government Task Force responsible for recovering and protecting Federal Government properties and enforcing the approved setback for the coastal highway.
He claimed that the alleged actions were being carried out under the direction of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and were aimed at intimidating or undermining Federal Task Force personnel operating in parts of Eti-Osa.
Among the Lagos officials mentioned by Alimi were CSP Shola Jejeloye of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, RRS; 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.
According to Alimi, the situation followed the Federal Government’s position that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a Federal infrastructure project and that relevant Federal authorities are responsible for survey coordination, Federal reservations and enforcement of the Right-of-Way.
He alleged that on September 4, 2026, Lagos State officials, accompanied by a large number of police personnel, visited locations at Kuramo, Victoria Island; Mayegun Coastal Road; and Ilasan in Eti-Osa, where members of the Federal Task Force were carrying out their duties.
Alimi further alleged that the officials searched for the Head of the Federal Task Force, identified as Mr Boomelin, reportedly with the intention of arresting or intimidating him.
He also claimed that personnel working with the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation were threatened during the incident.
According to him, the officials returned to some of the affected properties on September 7, 2026, allegedly entered parts of the land without authorisation and installed real-estate billboards despite the presence of the Federal Task Force and its security personnel.
Alimi said that if the allegations were established, the matter would extend beyond a normal land dispute and could have wider implications for Federal-State relations and the constitutional powers of both levels of government.
He questioned who authorised the deployment of armed police personnel to Federal properties, the alleged attempt to arrest or intimidate Federal Task Force officials, as well as the alleged entry into the properties and installation of advertisements.
Alimi also called for clarification over alleged comments by a senior Lagos State official suggesting that the Federal Government does not own land in Lagos and that Federal land is vested in the state governor.
He said such a position, if accurately reported, should be clarified by the appropriate authorities.
Land Dispute and Federal Intervention
On the broader land issue, Alimi alleged that the Federal Government’s intervention followed concerns over encroachment, unauthorised allocations, questionable documentation, multiple claims of ownership, fraudulent transactions, land grabbing and inadequate management of government properties.
He maintained that any suspected irregularities should be addressed through proper investigation and verification by the relevant authorities rather than confrontation.
Alimi appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and prevent the situation from developing into a wider Federal-State conflict.
Among his demands, he called for the withdrawal of any Lagos State security personnel allegedly deployed to the disputed Federal properties and requested protection for Federal Task Force members and officials working with the Surveyor-General of the Federation.
He also urged that further construction, development, occupation, demolition and advertising activities on the affected properties be suspended until ownership and other claims are properly verified.
Alimi further called on the President to order 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 a comprehensive verification and demarcation exercise covering the affected properties and the reservations for the coastal highway.
Alimi stressed that Lagos State remains an important part of Nigeria but does not operate as a separate entity, arguing that the state government and Federal Government should operate within their respective constitutional and statutory responsibilities.
He said his intervention was not aimed at creating a confrontation with the Lagos State Government but at promoting accountability and respect for constitutional authority.
Alimi appealed to residents and other stakeholders to remain calm while the relevant authorities investigate the allegations and work towards resolving the dispute.
SOURCE: VANGUARD
