A concerned citizen has alleged a growing dispute between Federal and Lagos State officials over activities along the Lagos Coastal Road, calling for President Bola Tinubu’s intervention.
The allegation was contained in a statement issued on September 10, 2026, by Ismaila Alimi, a resident of Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Alimi alleged that officials of the Lagos State Government, acting under the direction of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had attempted to obstruct and intimidate personnel of a Federal Government Task Force operating around parts of Eti-Osa.
The citizen specifically named CSP Shola Jejeloye of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, 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 dispute followed the Federal Government’s position that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a Federal infrastructure project.
He said relevant Federal authorities were responsible for matters including survey coordination, Federal reservations and Right-of-Way enforcement.
Alimi alleged that on September 4, Lagos State officials, accompanied by a large police contingent, visited locations around Kuramo in Victoria Island, Mayegun Coastal Road and Ilasan in Eti-Osa.
He claimed the officials were looking for the Head of the Federal Task Force, identified as Mr Boomelin, allegedly with the intention of arresting or intimidating him.
Personnel attached to the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation were also allegedly subjected to threats, he claimed.
Alimi further alleged that the officials returned to some of the properties on September 7, forcibly entered portions of the land and erected real-estate billboards.
He said the alleged actions occurred despite the presence of the Federal Task Force and its security arrangements.
According to him, if established, the allegations would extend beyond a conventional land dispute and raise questions about Federal-State relations and constitutional authority.
He questioned who authorised the deployment of armed police personnel to Federal properties and who approved the alleged attempt to arrest or intimidate Federal Task Force members.
Alimi also sought 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 clarification from the relevant authorities.
Alimi said the Federal Government’s intervention was reportedly linked to concerns about encroachment, unauthorised allocations, questionable documentation, multiple title claims, fraudulent transactions, land grabbing and poor management of government assets.
He argued that any irregularities discovered should be investigated and verified by the appropriate authorities rather than becoming the basis for confrontation.
Alimi therefore urged President Tinubu to intervene in the Lagos Coastal Road dispute and prevent what he described as a potential confrontation between the Federal and Lagos State governments.
He called for the withdrawal of any Lagos security personnel allegedly deployed to the disputed Federal properties and protection for Federal Task Force members and Surveyor-General officials.
He also urged authorities to halt further construction, development, occupation, demolition and advertisement on the affected properties pending proper verification.
Call for Property Verification
Alimi asked the President to investigate the alleged deployment of security personnel against officials operating under Federal authority.
He also called on the Surveyor-General of the Federation to conduct comprehensive verification and demarcation of the affected properties and coastal highway reservations.
“Lagos State is an integral part of Nigeria, but it is not a separate republic,” Alimi said.
“The Lagos State Government is meant to work together with the Federal Government within the limits of their respective constitutional and statutory powers.”
He stressed that his intervention was not intended to promote confrontation with the Lagos State Government.
Instead, he said, his objective was to encourage accountability and respect for constitutional authority.
Alimi appealed to residents and stakeholders to remain calm while relevant authorities investigate the allegations and work towards resolving the dispute.
