• Seeks Tinubu’s intervention over alleged obstruction of federal task force
Tension is reportedly mounting along parts of the Lagos Coastal Road following allegations that officials of the Lagos State Government attempted to obstruct the activities of a Federal Government task force charged with recovering and protecting federal landed properties and enforcing the approved coastal highway setback.
The allegation was contained in a statement dated September 10, 2026, by Ismaila Alimi, a concerned citizen from Eti-Osa Local Council of Lagos State, who called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene before the dispute escalates into a confrontation between the Federal and Lagos State governments.
Alimi alleged that officials of the Lagos State Government, acting under the direction of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had moved to intimidate and undermine personnel of the federal task force operating in parts of Eti-Osa.
According to Alimi, the dispute followed the Federal Government’s position that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a federal infrastructure project, with relevant federal authorities responsible for survey coordination, federal reservations and enforcement of the Right of Way.
He alleged that on September 4, 2026, the Lagos State officials, accompanied by a large contingent of police officers, visited locations around Kuramo, Victoria Island; Mayegun Coastal Road; and Ilasan, Eti-Osa, where members of the federal task force were carrying out their duties.
Alimi further alleged that the officials sought the head of the federal task force, identified as Mr Boomelin, allegedly with the intention of arresting or intimidating him.
He also claimed that personnel attached to the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation were subjected to threats.
The concerned citizen alleged that the officials returned to some of the affected properties on September 7, forcibly entered portions of the land and erected real estate billboards despite the presence of the federal task force and its security personnel.
If established, Alimi said, the allegations would go beyond a routine land dispute and raise questions about federal-state relations and the exercise of constitutional and statutory powers.
He asked: “Who authorised the deployment of armed police personnel to federal properties? Who authorised the attempt to arrest or intimidate federal task force personnel?
“Who authorised the alleged forcible entry and erection of structures or advertisements on properties secured under a federal mandate?”
Alimi also called for clarification over an alleged statement by a senior Lagos State official that the Federal Government had no land in Lagos State and that federal land was vested in the governor.
He said such a position, if accurately reported, required urgent clarification from the relevant authorities.
On the wider land dispute, Alimi alleged that the Federal Government’s intervention was prompted by concerns over encroachment, unauthorised allocations, questionable documentation, multiple claims of title, fraudulent transactions, land grabbing and poor management of government assets.
He argued that any discovery of irregularities should be addressed through investigation and verification by competent authorities rather than confrontation.
Alimi therefore urged President Tinubu to intervene to prevent what he described as a potentially damaging federal-state confrontation.
Among his demands, he called for the withdrawal of any Lagos State security personnel allegedly deployed to the disputed federal properties, protection for federal task force personnel and officials attached to the Surveyor-General of the Federation, and a halt to further construction, development, occupation, demolition or advertising on the affected properties pending verification.
He also urged the President to order an investigation into the alleged deployment of security personnel against officers operating under federal authority.
Alimi called on the Surveyor-General of the Federation to undertake comprehensive verification and demarcation of the affected properties and the coastal highway reservations.
He said: “Lagos State is an integral part of Nigeria, but it is not a separate republic. The Lagos State Government is meant to work together with the Federal Government within the limits of their respective constitutional and statutory powers.”
Alimi said his intervention was not intended to promote confrontation with the Lagos State Government but to ensure accountability and respect for constitutional authority.
He appealed to residents and other stakeholders to remain calm while the relevant authorities investigate the allegations and work towards resolving the dispute.
As of press time, officials of the Lagos State government had yet to respond to inquiries on the issue.
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