A concerned resident of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos, Ismaila Alimi, has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene over an alleged dispute between Federal Government officials and Lagos State authorities along parts of the Lagos Coastal Road.
Alimi, in a statement dated September 10, 2026, alleged that officials of the Lagos State Government had attempted to obstruct activities of a Federal Government Task Force responsible for recovering and protecting Federal landed properties and enforcing the approved coastal highway.
He claimed that the alleged actions were being carried out under the direction of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and had created tension around some locations in Eti-Osa.
Alimi named CSP Shola Jejeloye of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad, CSP Tayo Akerele of the Lagos State Task Force, Dr Jide Abiodun, Special Adviser to the Governor on eGIS and Urban Development, and Bldr. Omolola Florence Gbaye of the Lagos State Building Control Agency among officials allegedly involved.
According to him, the dispute followed the Federal Government’s position that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a Federal infrastructure project, with Federal authorities responsible for survey coordination, reservations and enforcement of the Right of Way.
Alimi alleged that on September 4, Lagos State officials, accompanied by a large police contingent, visited locations around Kuramo and Victoria Island, Mayegun Coastal Road and Ilasan in Eti-Osa, where members of the Federal Task Force were operating.
He further alleged that the officials sought to locate the head of the Federal Task Force, identified as Mr Boomelin, with the intention of arresting or intimidating him. Personnel attached to the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation were also allegedly threatened.
The resident claimed that some of the officials returned to affected properties on September 7, allegedly entered portions of the land and erected real-estate billboards despite the presence of the Federal Task Force and its security personnel.
Alimi said the allegations, if established, could raise issues beyond an ordinary land dispute because of their potential implications for relations between the Federal and Lagos State governments.
He questioned who authorised the alleged deployment of armed police personnel to properties under Federal protection and who approved the reported attempt to arrest or intimidate Federal Task Force personnel.
He also called for clarification over an alleged statement by a senior Lagos State official that the Federal Government had no land in Lagos State and that Federal land was vested in the governor.
Alimi said the Federal Government’s intervention in the affected areas was reportedly linked to concerns over encroachment, unauthorised allocations, questionable documentation, multiple title claims, fraudulent transactions and alleged land grabbing.
He argued that any irregularities discovered should be subjected to investigation and verification by the appropriate authorities rather than confrontation.
The concerned citizen therefore appealed to President Tinubu to intervene and prevent the situation from developing into a broader Federal-State confrontation.
Among his requests, Alimi called for the withdrawal of any Lagos State security personnel allegedly deployed to the disputed properties and protection for Federal Task Force members and officials attached to the Surveyor-General’s office.
He also urged the government to suspend further construction, occupation, demolition, development or advertisement on the affected properties pending proper verification.
Alimi further called on the Surveyor-General of the Federation to conduct a comprehensive verification and demarcation of the affected properties and coastal highway reservations.
He stressed that his intervention was not aimed at provoking conflict with the Lagos State Government, but at ensuring accountability and respect for the respective constitutional and statutory responsibilities of both levels of government.
He urged residents and other stakeholders to remain calm while relevant authorities investigate the allegations and work towards resolving the dispute.
