Nigerians in the Diaspora, under the coordination of Engr. Mrs. Stella Okengwu, have petitioned the National Assembly over the alleged refusal of the Federal Ministry of Works, headed by Engr. David Umahi, to pay compensation for their demolished investment at Okun Ajah in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The Diaspora investors, who invested through Winhomes Estate Global Services Limited, alleged that the Minister of Works diverted the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway into their property and failed to compensate them for the loss of about 18 hectares of land and structures erected on it.
The petition, titled “Petition Against the Federal Ministry of Works in Respect of Its Refusal to Pay Compensation to Winhomes Estate Global Services Limited Being the Rightful Legal Title Holder of Eighteen (18) Hectares of Land at Okun Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos Destroyed During the Construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,” was dated December 23, 2025.
It was addressed to the President of the Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, by Maverick Forte Legal on behalf of the affected investors.
In the petition, Maverick Forte Legal stated that it acts as solicitors to Winhomes Estate Global Services Limited and Engr. Mrs. Ifeoma Okengwu, the Chief Executive Officer of the company. The firm noted that Winhomes Estate is a duly registered corporate entity engaged in mass estate development and housing consultancy services and had attracted substantial foreign direct investment into the project.
According to the petition, the company lawfully acquired approximately 18 hectares of land at Okun Ajah, measuring about 120,721.002 square metres, alongside another 18.838 hectares covered by Certificate of Occupancy No. 72 registered in Volume 2006AC of the Lagos Lands Registry, as well as an additional parcel registered in Volume 2753. Certified true copies of the Deed of Assignment dated April 22, 2022, and consented to by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, were attached to the petition.
The petitioners said they were surprised to learn that the Federal Ministry of Works allegedly diverted the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway into their property, contrary to the initial alignment and designs vetted by the Federal Executive Council.
They urged the Senate to require the Ministry to produce the original approved plans of the highway project.
They further stated that, in line with international best practices, the company commissioned a composite survey plan and applied to the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to ascertain whether the land fell within any government right of way.
According to the petition, a letter dated April 16, 2024, issued by the Ministry and signed by a Deputy Director in the Development Matters Department, confirmed that the property was free from any right-of-way alignment.
Despite this confirmation, the petitioners alleged that the property was later demolished, the land encroached upon, private individuals arrested and detained, and the area barricaded, without any payment of compensation.
They further argued that the coastal highway was allegedly diverted inland, contrary to its intended coastal alignment, and contended that the diversion did not conform with the designs approved by the Federal Executive Council.
The petitioners also claimed that no Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted on the diverted route and that no gazetted approval existed authorising the acquisition of their land.
Based on these claims, the investors called on the Senate to set up an ad-hoc committee with a defined timeline to investigate the matter, including conducting public hearings and summoning all relevant ministries, agencies, and stakeholders involved in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
They also urged the Senate to pass a resolution directing the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately commence payment of compensation at prevailing market value for the land, demolished structures, improvements, furnishings, and loss of business and livelihood within two weeks of such resolution.
Meanwhile, the Office of the Clerk to the National Assembly acknowledged receipt of the petition in a letter dated January 7, 2026, signed by the Director (Management), Dr. Bello Olatunfi Babatunde.
In the letter, Dr. Bello confirmed receipt of the petition but advised that it be redirected to the appropriate legislative committee for proper consideration. He recommended that the petition be addressed to either the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Code of Conduct and Public Petitions or the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Public Petitions.
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