Tension is brewing along the Lagos Coastal Road, and it's not just about the sand. A concerned citizen has come out swinging, alleging that officials from the Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, are actively trying to undermine a Federal Government Task Force. This isn't just a small spat over plots of land; it’s about who has the final say on federal properties and projects in Lagos. The whole drama kicked off after the Federal Government reminded everyone that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a federal infrastructure project. This means federal authorities are in charge of surveys and ensuring everything stays within approved boundaries.
Ismaila Alimi, a resident of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, dropped the bombshell in a statement on September 10, 2026. He pointed fingers at some key Lagos officials. These include CSP Shola Jejeloye from the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS), CSP Tayo Akerele of the Lagos State Task Force, Dr Jide Abiodun, the Governor's Special Adviser on eGIS and Urban Development, and Bldr. Omolola Florence Gbaye from the Lagos State Building Control Agency. Alimi claims these individuals, armed with a significant police presence, descended on federal task force operations on September 4, 2026.
This occurred in areas like Kuramo, Victoria Island, Mayegun Coastal Road, and Ilasan.
According to Alimi’s account, the state officials weren't just there for a friendly chat. They were reportedly looking for the head of the Federal Task Force, a Mr Boomelin, with the apparent intention of arresting or intimidating him. Even personnel working with the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation allegedly faced threats. But that wasn't the end of it. Alimi alleges that on September 7, 2026, state officials allegedly forced their way into parts of these federal properties.
They put up real-estate billboards, all while the federal task force was right there with its security in place. This is quite the face-off, especially when you consider the scale of the coastal road project itself.
This isn't your average neighbourhood dispute over fence lines. Alimi is flagging this as a serious issue that could mess with how federal and state governments work together. He’s asking some sharp questions. Who gave the go-ahead to send armed police to federal land? Who authorised the attempt to intimidate federal personnel?
And who gave the nod to barge onto properties already secured by a federal mandate to put up signs or start building? He’s also calling out alleged claims from a senior Lagos official suggesting the Federal Government has no land in Lagos. He claims this official said that all federal land is actually controlled by the state governor. If that’s true, it needs some serious clearing up.
The Federal Government's intervention, Alimi explained, was triggered by a tidal wave of problems they found. These included encroaching on land, giving out allocations without proper checks, dodgy land documents, people claiming ownership from all sides, outright land grabbing, and a general mess in managing government assets. He reckons the proper way to handle any discovered irregularities is through careful investigation and verification by the right authorities, not by getting into a showdown.
So, Alimi is calling on President Bola Tinubu to step in and sort this out before it escalates into a full-blown federal-state confrontation. His demands are clear. Lagos security personnel allegedly on federal property should be pulled back. The federal task force and officials from the Surveyor-General’s office need protection. All building, development, or advertising on the disputed lands must stop until everything is verified.
He also wants the President to order an investigation into why federal authorities were allegedly targeted by state security.
But it’s not all about finger-pointing. Alimi is also urging the Surveyor-General of the Federation to get busy and properly map out and mark all affected federal properties and the designated areas for the coastal highway. He reminds everyone that while Lagos is a vital part of Nigeria, it's not its own country. State governments are supposed to collaborate with the Federal Government, each staying within their constitutional lanes. He’s pushing for clarity on who exactly authorised these alleged actions, why they were taken, and under what legal backing.
Alimi insists his aim isn't to pick a fight but to ensure everyone plays by the rules and respects the constitution.
The alleged obstruction and intimidation attempts by Lagos State officials occurred on September 4, 2026, and September 7, 2026. Locations specifically mentioned in the allegations include Kuramo, Victoria Island; Mayegun Coastal Road; and Ilasan, all within Eti-Osa Local Government Area. Key Lagos State officials named include CSP Shola Jejeloye (RRS), CSP Tayo Akerele (Lagos State Task Force), Dr Jide Abiodun (Special Adviser), and Bldr. Omolola Florence Gbaye (LASBCA). Mr Boomelin is identified as the Head of the Federal Task Force.