Tension is rising in Enugu State as host communities protest an alleged plan by the state government to convert part of a school land into a commercial housing estate.

Residents of Amauzam-Ugbawka and Agbani communities in Nkanu East Local Government Area staged a protest over reports that undeveloped portions of the Girls Special Science School, Agbani, have been earmarked for a housing project.

The protesters described the move as “land grabbing,” insisting that the land was originally acquired for educational purposes and should not be repurposed without due consultation.

Carrying placards, the demonstrators said the development would further dispossess them of ancestral land, more than two decades after the school was established without clearly defined boundaries.

They called on Governor Peter Mbah to intervene by halting the proposed housing project and ensuring proper demarcation of the school’s land.

According to the communities, the disputed land spans Ugbawka Amauzam and Agbani and was acquired during the administration of former governor Chimaroke Nnamani without adequate consultation or clear boundary definition.

The protesters said repeated efforts to resolve the issue had yielded no results. They recalled writing to the administration of former governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi in 2016, requesting a formal survey and clarification of the school’s boundaries.

They also noted that a similar appeal was made to the current administration in 2024, seeking either the return of unused land or compensation for affected families.

Although security personnel prevented the protesters from gaining access to the Government House, a petition outlining their grievances was submitted.

In the petition, community leaders expressed frustration over what they described as a breach of trust, alleging that earlier discussions around resizing the school land had now been replaced with plans for commercial development.

They urged the government to respect the provisions of the Land Use Act by engaging host communities, returning unutilised land, and compensating those whose lands had already been taken.

The controversy highlights growing concerns over land administration and urban development in Enugu, particularly as housing expansion increasingly intersects with community land rights.

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Residents of the Natufe/Animashaun Community Development Area in Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday, staged a peaceful protest against the proposed construction of a cemetery in their neighborhood.

The large plot of land earmarked for the project sits along Babs Animashaun Street, bordered by homes, a school, and a church. Holding placards and chanting “No to the cemetery,” the protesters said the development would endanger public health and degrade their environment.

Chairperson of the community, Alhaja Omolabake Braimoh, said residents had earlier resisted similar plans two years ago. “This is a residential area with schools, churches, and families. We depend on borehole water, and the cemetery will contaminate our land and water,” she said.

Braimoh alleged that a government stakeholder meeting held at Eko Club was done without genuine community representation. “They claimed 60% of us agreed to the project, but those who attended were not from our area,” she stated, adding that letters had been sent to the Coker-Aguda LCDA and more would go to relevant state agencies.

Former CDA chairman Olarenwaju Olaniyan also condemned the plan, urging the state to approve projects that promote growth instead of harm. “We’ve lived here for over 50 years. This project will pollute our boreholes and destroy lives. The governor should intervene,” he appealed.

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, said during a recent stakeholders’ meeting that the proposed cemetery was designed to address the shortage of burial spaces in Surulere. He explained that the site met planning standards, with features such as CCTV surveillance, street lighting, drainage, and a 20-metre setback from nearby buildings.

Olumide emphasised that inclusive dialogue was key to resolving such disputes, noting that Lagos’ limited land space required “creativity and collaboration” in urban planning.

The protest highlights the broader challenge of balancing community welfare with Lagos’ growing demand for essential public infrastructure.

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