Hundreds of residents of Okun Ajah community in Lagos State gathered at the Federal Ministry of Works headquarters to protest the proposed diversion of the coastal road alignment.
The residents accused Minister of Works David Umahi of favouring a particular ethnic group at the expense of others whose properties lie outside the designated alignment.
The protesters, holding placards with messages condemning the planned diversion, called on President Bola Tinubu and the National Assembly to investigate the matter.
They claimed that the minister had promised to adhere to the original 2006 alignment but had reneged on his promise.
Maimuna Usman-Ologunro, a landlady and protester, expressed frustration that buildings not on the coastal road alignment were being marked for demolition.
The Akogun of Okun Ajah, Saeed Olukosi, described the diversion as a miscarriage of justice, alleging that the minister was protecting illegal structures built on the coastal road alignment.
Bolanle Olugbani, counsel for the residents, reiterated that the Federal Government had assured the community that it would adhere to the old gazetted alignment.
He stressed that residents had been aware of the planned coastal road for over 30 years and that influential individuals had illegally built on the designated alignment.
The Federal Comptroller of Works in Lagos, Olukorede Kesha, received the protesters and assured them that the minister was willing to address their concerns.
She promised that the minister would meet with the community again to resolve the issue, emphasising that justice would be served.
