Fresh concerns have emerged over the Federal Government’s plan to demolish buildings within a 15-metre setback along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to accommodate service lanes, with stakeholders warning that up to 2,700 buildings and thousands of residents could be affected.
Gatekeepers News reports that Minister of Works David Umahi announced that structures within the newly identified setback would be removed to create service roads and drainage infrastructure aimed at improving accessibility, traffic safety and flood control along the corridor.
According to the minister, affected property owners will be compensated in line with the law.
Stakeholders estimate that about 700 buildings are already on the highway’s right-of-way, while another 1,700 to 2,000 structures fall within the proposed setback, bringing the total number of affected properties to between 1,700 and 2,700.
Estate surveyor and valuer Olusola Enitan said the exercise could affect between 3,400 and 10,800 households, translating to an estimated 17,000 to 54,000 residents based on average household sizes.
The planned expansion has, however, generated mixed reactions among transport planners, engineers, property professionals and investors. While many agree that service lanes are essential for improving road safety, reducing congestion and providing access to adjoining communities, others questioned whether they formed part of the original highway design or were introduced after construction had begun.
Experts warned that if the service lanes were omitted from the initial design, the change could point to shortcomings in project planning, increase construction costs, delay completion and create uncertainty for affected communities and investors.
They also noted that property owners risk losing commercial frontage, rental income and redevelopment opportunities, adding that compensation may not fully offset the long-term economic impact.
Former President of the Association of Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON), Muyiwa Adelu, described service lanes as essential to the long-term functionality of the coastal highway, arguing that they should have been included in the original design.
“In the real sense, what will make the coastal highway sustainable is the provision of service lanes. They ought to have been part of the original road design. If the government is only incorporating them now, it will cause social and economic hardship,” he said.
Adelu urged the government to adequately compensate affected property owners, provide alternative land where necessary and allow sufficient time for relocation before demolition begins.
Also commenting, former President of the Nigerian Institution of Structural Engineers (NiStructE), Dr Victor Oyenuga, said federal highways are protected by statutory rights-of-way and cautioned that compensation would depend largely on whether affected buildings received valid planning approvals.
Estate surveyor Olusola Enitan called for an independent review of the project’s engineering design, hydrology and environmental impact assessment.
“The proposed service lanes are not merely a policy shift; they represent a profound breach of planning integrity and public trust. Competent engineering does not discover its own right-of-way midway through construction,” he said.
Responding to concerns, Umahi maintained that the service lanes and additional drainage infrastructure form part of broader efforts to address persistent flooding in communities along the highway corridor.
He rejected claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway caused recent flooding in parts of Lagos, insisting that the project’s Environmental Impact Assessment complied with international standards.
The minister attributed the flooding to ageing drainage systems, indiscriminate refuse disposal, poor urban planning and developments on flood-prone areas without adequate drainage.
He said the Federal Government would work with the Lagos State Government to strengthen drainage infrastructure, implement flood-control measures and enforce stricter development regulations along the corridor.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also dismissed allegations that the highway project caused flooding, describing such claims as misinformation.
“Lagos is a coastal city. We will always experience some level of flooding, and we only pray that it does not become severe. These are natural occurrences associated with coastal environments across the world,” the governor said.
He added that indiscriminate refuse disposal remains a major contributor to urban flooding and confirmed that the state would continue enforcing environmental regulations while supporting the construction of service roads to improve access and protect the integrity of the highway.
