Minister of Works, David Umahi, has given Winhomes Global Services Limited seven days to provide evidence of its alleged $250 million investment in land affected by the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway or face petitions to the EFCC, DSS, and even the US Embassy.
Inspecting the site in Lagos on Monday, Umahi dismissed the company’s claims as misleading. “I have a document from Winhomes that says they bought 12 hectares of land in 2022 for the sum of N50 million. In this area, with all the development around, I don’t know if the villagers were terribly cheated or if due process was followed. Nigerians should ask questions,” he said.
The minister pointed to what he called substandard works on the site. “The only thing we destroyed was the gatehouse, for which the enumerator graciously gave her N19 million. The woman claimed she has invested $250 million. Not ₦250 million, but dollars. We cannot trace the money, the approvals, or the investors. If she really brought that amount, where is it? Show us through the CBN, show us who paid, and how much they paid. Otherwise, it is a fraud to me.”
Umahi demanded an apology and warned that without proof, the case would be escalated. “I’ll be writing to the Embassy of America to demand that they send the woman back to us so that she will come and tell us where the money is and how it left America to come to Nigeria,” he added.
Civil society representatives also challenged Winhomes’ narrative. Declan Hekare, who had earlier led protests, said: “What I am seeing here is below my expectations. I expected to see structures that were erected and pulled down. That is not the case. If by the end of two weeks, more evidence is not provided, we will address a world press conference. Nigerians cannot be misled.”
On the project, Umahi assured that the highway will be delivered under a 30 percent government and 70 percent private financing model, with concessionaires ready to fund construction.
