A fresh dispute over land and development along the Lagos Coastal Road has raised concerns about a possible clash between the Lagos State Government and a Federal Government task force responsible for protecting Federal landed assets and enforcing the approved coastal highway setback.
The concern was raised by a resident of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Ismaila Alimi, in a statement dated September 10, 2026. Alimi alleged that some Lagos State officials had attempted to obstruct the activities of the Federal task force operating in parts of Eti-Osa.
He called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, warning that the alleged confrontation could develop into a wider dispute over the constitutional responsibilities of the Federal and state governments.
Alimi specifically named CSP Shola Jejeloye of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, CSP Tayo Akerele of the Lagos State Task Force, Special Adviser to the Governor on eGIS and Urban Development, Dr Jide Abiodun, and Bldr. Omolola Florence Gbaye of the Lagos State Building Control Agency among those allegedly involved.
According to him, the controversy stems partly from the Federal Government’s position that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a Federal infrastructure project, with Federal authorities 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, where Federal task force personnel were carrying out their duties.
He claimed the officials searched for the head of the task force, identified as Mr Boomelin, allegedly with the intention of arresting or intimidating him. Personnel from the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation were also allegedly threatened.
Alimi further alleged that the officials returned to some of the properties on September 7, forcibly entered portions of the land and installed real-estate billboards despite the presence of the Federal task force and its security arrangements.
He questioned who authorised the alleged deployment of armed police to Federal properties, the reported attempt to intimidate Federal officers and the alleged erection of advertisements on land under Federal protection.
The concerned citizen said the Federal intervention followed concerns over alleged encroachment, unauthorised allocations, questionable documentation, multiple title claims, fraudulent transactions, land grabbing and poor management of government assets. He argued that such issues should be addressed through investigation and verification rather than confrontation.
Alimi also sought clarification over an alleged claim by a senior Lagos State official that the Federal Government had no land in Lagos and that Federal land was vested in the governor.
He urged the Surveyor-General of the Federation to verify and demarcate the affected properties and coastal highway reservations, while calling for protection of Federal personnel and a suspension of further construction, occupation, demolition or advertising on the disputed properties pending verification.
“Lagos State is an integral part of Nigeria, but it is not a separate republic,” he said, urging both levels of government to operate within their constitutional and statutory powers.
Alimi appealed for calm and said his intervention was intended to promote accountability and prevent the dispute from escalating into a Federal-State confrontation.
