Nigerians in the Diaspora have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to institute an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the diversion of the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway at chainages 17 and 18.
They also condemned what they described as abuse of the right of their representative in Nigeria, Engr Stella Okengwu by the minister of works, David Umahi during the last stakeholders’ meeting in Abuja.
The Diasporans, who are subscribers to Winhomes Global Services also claimed that their dream of investing about #250 million ( two hundred and fifty million dollars is about to be shattered, despite their ensuring due diligence in their dealings.
They, therefore, appealed to President Tinubu, not only to order the minister of works to revert to the already Gazetted 2006 alignment but also the president should order thorough investigations into the planned diversion.
Representatives of the abroad-based Nigerians, Engr Mrs Stella Okengwu, while speaking to newsmen on Sunday, averred that the minister of works might have been misinformed to divert the road to affect the investment of hundreds of Nigerians overseas.
She said; “I welcome you all to this press conference which has become imperative to lay bare, all the illegal coastal road re-alignments as I shall set the record straight with facts and figures surrounding the coastal road re-alignment vis-avis the illegal diversion and demolition of Winhomes estate owned by Nigeria in the diaspora.
“First and foremost, I wish to state that I am indeed very grateful to the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government (The president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria) for the good job he has been doing, the genuineness in the voice Mr president and the eagerness to reshape the country and his visit to various overseas countries seeking for investment and collaboration to revive our economy for example, merging the foreign exchange rates in the country apart from other far-reaching policies of this administration.
“I must state that as a stakeholder and partner in the construction, building, development, and works sector of Nigeria, I am fully in support of the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project because of the numerous economic and socio-cultural benefits it would bring to Lagos state, the country, Nigerians in the diaspora and my company.
“To this extent, I wish to state emphatically that the Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi has rightfully been appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu because he can activate the Ministry of Works dutifully based on precise, concise, accurate, convincing, and compelling data, report and information if given at his disposal, but unfortunately, the reverse is the case here. It is on this note that I shall set the record straight to bear all facts surrounding the subject matter of this press conference.
“Before I delve so much into the facts, let me vehemently state that on two different occasions, the minister of works had in a public stakeholders meeting held at Eko Hotel in Lagos on the 11th of April and 23rd of May 2024 that he shall revert to the 2006 original gazetted Lagos-Calabar Coastal road alignment at Okun-Ajah area of Lagos state.”
She wondered; “How come he suddenly in June 2024 diverted to a new alignment? We place it on record in the interest of justice, fairness, and equity that you cannot approbate and at the same time reprobate..”
Engr Okengwu continued; “To begin with, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road is regulated originally by the 2006 gazette which was meant to be along Lekki-Epe express road but the minister of works affirmed that he is changing the Coastal Road alignment because he wants to avoid the shoreline where both MTN and 2 Africa cables are situated, but unfortunately these cables are not located within change 16-18 corridor (within Okun-Ajah) rather they are located at Okun-Mopo which is 7 kilometers away from Okun-Ajah where my company, Winhomes Global Service Estate is situated.
“My company, Winhomes Global Services Limited has a vast property that has all relevant documents ranging from Certificate of Occupancy, Governor’s Consent, Coastal Road right of Way Clearance amongst other legal documents and we have been enjoying good developmental relationship with the Okun-Ajah community where my company is. In fact, the coastal road was the main attraction for the Nigerians in the diaspora because of its proximity to the proposed coastal road and its attendant benefits.
“The initiative to create Winhomes as an investment portal/scheme for diaspora investment was to repatriate over $250m US dollars in foreign direct investment and create jobs for over 5000 young Nigerians.”
She stressed; “My company is over 700 meters away from the shoreline which makes it legal and apt.
On the allegation of the minister referring to me as an Igbo land grabber, this statement is tribalistic in nature, derogatory, disrespectful, and unfounded as it does not conform with any law within Nigeria.
In the first instance, as a Nigerian, I have rights to own properties anywhere within the Nigeria space as enshrined under section 44 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended. Secondly, I and my company have not in any way acted ultra vires against the land use Act of 1978 to warrant my being labelled as a land grabber.
Meanwhile, my two partners are Yorubas but in the spirit of one united Nigeria, the labelling of me as an Igbo land grabber in Lagos is uncalled for, disparaging and belittling from highly respected statesmen and minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Furthermore, with reference to the appropriateness or otherwise of the Certificate of Occupancy and other related documents my company possesses, it does not behoove the authority of the minister of works to publicly and falsely allege that my documents are fake and untrue as these statements are not only misleading and inciting but also defamatory, disrespectful and could lead to actions likely to lead to a breach of peace and an indictment on Lagos State Government, knowing fully well that “He who asserts must prove”.
In a similar vein, popular medical practitioner, Dr Arinze Onwumelu, popularly known as ” Dr Zo” called on President Tinubu to call the minister to order so as not to discourage millions of Nigerians in the Diaspora, who have been.buying into the idea of investing in Nigeria.
A black American, who also invested in the scheme, Kimberly Stark was moved into tears when she lamented the emotional and other stresses she has been going through since the scheme was put under threat by the officials of the Ministry of Works.
Kimberly said that she was influenced to invest in the scheme by Winhomes and other Nigerians abroad and that the latest development on the project will discourage other non-Nigerians, who are also planning to cue into the project.
