Property owners in Ebute‑Metta, Lagos State, are seeking compensation from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) for the forced acquisition of their homes to develop rail infrastructure in 2018. Five families from Adisa Estate, located along Murtala Muhammed Way, were displaced and approached the Federal High Court in Lagos in 2019, alleging unlawful seizure of their properties.
The affected homeowners—Oba Akinola Ovetade Akinrera, Alhaja Aisha Aminu Gwadabe, Alhaja Sadiat Abduiazeez, Mr. Justin Ajufo, and Mr. Ayodele Joseph Ojo—were awarded N10 million in damages by Justice Y. Bogoro on May 9 2023. The court ruled that the NRC’s acquisition of the properties for the construction of its Ebute‑Metta station violated due process and infringed on the applicants’ constitutional rights under the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Court records show that NRC officials, supported by over 100 armed policemen, took control of the houses on October 10 2018 without prior notice.
Although the Federal Ministry of Transportation had appointed a firm to enumerate and compensate 19 affected property owners, the five claimants initially refused the entitlements offered. According to NRC spokesperson Adeyinka Aderibigbe, two of the five homeowners have since expressed willingness to receive compensation.
The homeowners’ legal representative, Akeem Aponmade, has formally demanded payment of N154.25 million on behalf of the five families, based on valuations conducted years earlier. Aponmade emphasized that a certified valuer had properly assessed the properties and that his clients are seeking full compensation for the unlawful seizure.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing infrastructure development with property rights in Nigeria. As the government continues to expand its rail network, affected citizens are demanding justice and fair restitution for the disruption caused by such projects, underscoring the need for the government to respect property rights and provide adequate compensation for losses incurred due to development initiatives.
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