Lekki Estate Residents and Stakeholders Association has threatened to sue the Lagos State Government for allegedly leasing various parts of land earmarked for Lekki-Lagos Coastal road to churches, event centres, private estate and house developers.
In a pre-action notice dated March 8, 2022 sent to the state government through the law firm of Edward Group Chambers, the residents accused the state government of illegally allowing private developers and church to take over the coastal land road.
The notice was also forwarded to the state’s House of Assembly, Attorney-General of the state, Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Land and the General Manager, Lagos State New Towns Development Authority, NTDA
In the notice, the residents stated that the Coastal land road was acquired by the state government for ‘overriding public purpose’ from the original owners but is now being allocated illegally to developers for private and commercial building projects. The residents made reference to several letters written to the state government and House of Assembly drawing their attention to illegal structures being erected on the costal road and the failure of the appropriate government agencies to stop the illegal development.
They claimed that the various illegal building constructions on the road have now made it difficult for them to access their homes.
The notice partly reads: “We refer to all previous written communication, meetings, site visits, text and e-mail messages concerning the above matter.
“While all the above attachment letters, messages and media reports speak for themselves, we wish to inform you, that it is the informed opinion of our clients, that a piece or parcel of land that was acquired by any level of government for – “an overriding public purpose’, as contained in the Land Use Act, (Coastal Road in this case) cannot be converted or jettisoned for the use of, or allocation to a mosque, church, events planners or other private housing or commercial developmental purposes.
“This letter therefore serves as a pre-action notice of our Clients’ intention to commence legal action against you, jointly and or severally, via a Writ of Summons or Originating Summons, after 21 day from the date hereof, for the appropriate reliefs.”