The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi evicted one of President Bola Tinubu’s supporters during a public engagement in the Victoria Island area of Lagos with stakeholders and homeowners on Sunday.
The meeting was held with those whose properties were affected by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.
Umahi was in the company of federal lawmakers inspecting ongoing infrastructure projects across the nation.
Tempers flared at a point when the Minister opened the floor for questions, with a woman who identified herself as a leading campaigner for Tinubu during the 2023 election, challenging some of the government’s decisions.
According to her, the road was diverted into her estate in Lagos, with all her houses demolished despite having the necessary certificates and authorisations from the government.
She accused the Minister of having diverted the road to her estate to prevent the houses of his friends and people in high places from being demolished instead.
In turn, Umahi said the woman has been doing all she could to stop the project from going on.
He accused her of mobilising protests to stop the coastal road project.
“You have been doing a lot to stop the project. Listen to me, if I get further disturbances from you, there will be consequences for it.
“We are following the law. You are free to go to court if we are infringing on your rights,” Umahi said.
And the woman continued speaking even after the microphone had been taken from her, the minister said, “Security, move her out”.
She was heard saying, as she agitated, “I’m a matron in Tinubu campaign organisation that has over 5,000 members.”
Umahi further disclosed that the final designs would be produced, insisting that the shoreline belongs to the Federal Government.
“The beachside is not your land, the beachside belongs to the Federal Government,” he said.
The Lagos-Calabar Superhighway, estimated to cost about N15 trillion, is designed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, and Akwa Ibom states, before culminating in Cross River.
The project, which has caused some buildings to be demolished, has attracted a barrage of intense criticisms from many Nigerians who strongly felt that the timing of the project was wrong but Umahi said the project is in the best interest of Nigerians.
Lagos-Calabar coastal road: Umahi throws Tinubu supporter out of stakeholders’ meeting