Homeowners along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway have raised strong objections to plans requiring them to vacate their properties within a 150-metre setback from the shoreline, warning that the move amounts to forced eviction without due process or compensation.

Operating under the umbrella of Project Affected Persons (PAPs), the residents said the directive—attributed to the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation—was being wrongly justified using the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

In a position paper titled “Our Homes, Our Rights: Rejecting Retroactive Eviction Under the Guise of UNCLOS,” the group argued that UNCLOS, which Nigeria ratified in 1982, governs maritime boundaries and marine environmental protection, not land ownership or compulsory demolition of existing properties.

They stressed that none of the convention’s provisions prescribes a 150-metre coastal setback or authorises the retroactive eviction of lawful occupants.

The homeowners said many of them have lived in the affected areas for over 30 years, having acquired land legally, obtained state permits, and developed homes, schools, businesses, and places of worship without objection from authorities.

According to the group, they are now being asked to vacate or face demolition without formal notices, gazette publications, compensation, or location-specific scientific assessments.

Their legal counsel, Sola Enitan, described the situation as unconstitutional, citing Sections 43 and 44 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantee citizens’ rights to own property and stipulate strict conditions for compulsory acquisition.

He also referenced the Land Use Act, noting that revocation of land rights must be for overriding public interest, published in an official gazette, properly served on affected persons, and followed by valuation and prompt compensation.

“What is happening is not lawful acquisition but coercion and dispossession,” Enitan said, adding that acquisitions carried out without due process are “void ab initio.”

The group is demanding an immediate halt to demolitions linked to the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway until all constitutional and statutory requirements are met, including transparent disclosure of acquisition documents, valuation reports, and compensation plans.

The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is a major Federal Government infrastructure project expected to span about 700 kilometres, linking Lagos to Calabar through several coastal states in southern Nigeria.

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The funds will go toward the development of a 47.7-kilometre segment designated as Section 1, Phase 1, which begins at Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos. Construction of this segment began in March 2024 and is being executed by Hitech Construction Company Limited.

The approval forms part of a broader financing round by EBID, which includes a total of €174 million and $125 million allocated for infrastructure and social development projects across several West African countries.

The Lagos-Calabar project is expected to significantly boost economic activity by linking nine coastal states, improving access to key seaports, and connecting remote agro-industrial zones. It also aims to strengthen the regional value chain and stimulate development in underserved coastal communities.

The highway forms a major component of Nigeria’s broader infrastructure upgrade strategy, with sections also awarded in Akwa Ibom and Cross River States. These contracts have a cumulative value exceeding N3 trillion, with multiple sections already under various stages of development. Section I alone was procured at N1.068 trillion, with 30 percent of the funding already disbursed.

In addition to the road infrastructure, the broader round of EBID funding supports projects in Togo, Guinea, and Côte d’Ivoire, including vocational education centres, renewable energy installations, and cement supply chain enhancements.

EBID stated that the investments align with key global development goals, particularly those focused on industry, innovation, infrastructure, clean energy, and quality education. With this latest round of funding, the bank’s total commitment across the ECOWAS region has now exceeded $5 billion.

The Lagos-Calabar highway project is scheduled for completion by 2028 and is considered a strategic milestone in Nigeria’s efforts to modernize its transport network, stimulate commerce, and attract further investment into the West African subregion.

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