Okun-Ajah Community Hails Tinubu and Umahi for Saving Homes from Demolition

The Okun-Ajah Community in Lagos State has expressed their heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for their decisive action in reverting to the original gazetted route for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project. This decision has saved over 2,000 homes in the community from demolition, including the traditional ruler’s palace.

In a letter to the minister, the community leaders, Baale of Okun-Aja, Chief Sikiru Okoniawon Olukasi, and Secretary, Mr. Kamorudeen Balogun, commended the government’s willingness to listen to their concerns and act upon them. They described the decision as a “profound relief” that demonstrates the government’s commitment to preserving their cultural heritage.

The community had earlier cried out to the federal and Lagos State governments to exclude their traditional ruler’s palace and homes from the revised project route, which would have led to their demolition. However, on May 24, the Federal Government reassured them that their properties would not be demolished.

The community expressed their appreciation to President Tinubu and Umahi for their understanding and decisive action, which has saved their traditional home and cultural heritage. They also acknowledged the government’s commitment to the development and prosperity of their community and Nigeria at large.

The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project, which is expected to take eight years to complete, will span 700 kilometers and cost N15 trillion. The pilot phase of the construction has started at the Eko Atlantic City and will terminate at Lekki Deep Seaport, with N1.06 trillion already released. According to Umahi, it will be a 10-lane highway, the first of its kind in Africa, and will cost N4 billion per kilometer.

The community’s letter of appreciation highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage and the impact of government decisions on citizens’ lives. It also demonstrates the community’s trust and confidence in the Federal Government, which has shown human emotions and empathy towards its citizens.