A coalition of civil society groups and foreign investors under the banner of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations and Foreign Investors of Nigeria staged a peaceful protest on Wednesday, converging at the Lagos liaison office of the Federal Ministry of Works to demand the immediate release of Mr Ola Obanla, who was reportedly arrested by military personnel.
The protesters also called for adequate compensation for residents and investors affected by recent demolitions in the Okun-Ajah area of Lagos, where land is being cleared for the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Obanla, a site worker with WinHomes, was allegedly picked up by soldiers during a heated standoff over land demolitions in the area. Protesters claim he was taken without explanation and has not been seen or heard from since.
Carrying placards with bold inscriptions such as “Free Obanla, a site worker at WinHomes”, “Today it’s WinHomes, tomorrow it could be your land”, and “President Tinubu, we speak not as critics but as victims of impunity, stripped of justice in our own investment”, the demonstrators marched from Tafawa Balewa Square to the ministry office. Another sign read “Withdraw soldiers from Umahi”, referencing the Minister of Works.
They blamed the Ministry of Works for aggravating tensions in the community through demolitions that were allegedly carried out without adequate engagement or compensation, urging the Federal Government to initiate open dialogue with affected stakeholders to resolve the impasse peacefully.
Leading the protest was the coalition coordinator, Mr Shina Loromikan, who alleged that Obanla’s arrest followed a visit by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to the project site.
“The minister visited the coastal road and had an audience with residents. During the engagement, he felt displeased with the manner in which Mr Obanla addressed him and ordered soldiers accompanying him to arrest Obanla.
“He was whisked away and has not been seen since.
“Nobody in the community, not even his family, knows his whereabouts. Whether he is in the custody of security operatives or held in a private or official residence, we don’t know. We have gone to police stations, including the Lagos State Police Command, but they all claim ignorance.
“The law is clear. If someone is arrested and not charged to court within 24 to 48 hours, it becomes a case of illegal detention. The minister must do the needful or we will return to the streets,” he disclosed.
Loromikan said a similar protest was being held in Abuja simultaneously and vowed that the demand for Obanla’s release would persist until he is freed. He described the alleged arrest as an egregious abuse of power and an affront to democratic norms.
The coalition took issue with what they described as the unfair and non-transparent demolition and compensation processes being implemented by the Federal Government for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
“There must be fairness and proper negotiation between government and property owners. What we are seeing is oppression. A democratic government should not compensate people with peanuts after demolishing their hard-earned properties,” Loromikan stated, lamenting that many of the affected properties belonged to Nigerians living abroad who had invested in the area.
The protesters submitted a formal petition addressed to the Minister of Works, outlining several demands. Among them was a call for the government to return the disputed land to its original owners in line with existing legal frameworks, and to restore the initial alignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as previously mapped out.
The letter also urged the ministry to ensure the project is executed transparently, free from abuse of power, bribery, corruption, or any form of undue influence.
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