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After destroying Nigerians’ businesses, properties, Tinubu abandons multibillion Dollar Lagos-Calabar HighwayPublished 59 mins ago on May 24, 2024By Tim Elombah

Published

2 years ago

May 24, 2024

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi, celebrate their “spoil”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government has abandoned the multibillion Dollar Lagos-Calabar Highway, after destroying private businesses and properties of hapless Nigerians.

The Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi, made the disclosure during the 3rd Stakeholders Meeting held in Lagos.

Citing reason for the abandonment, Engineer Umahi said the proposed project would no longer occur due to the submarine cables laid along the coastline.

It could be recalled that telecommunication companies warned the government of possible network outage if the government continues with the diversion.

Some of the Lagos private businesses and properties demolished include LandMark, Good Beach and Oniru Beach.

Other private properties also marked for demolition include some ancestral homes in Okun-Ajah community in Lagos.

According to Engineer Umahi, the government is now considering alternatives to ensure the continuation of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The Minister, however, stated that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would not be available for now.

He referenced Section 15 (b) of the Freedom of Information Act as basis for government’s decision to withhold some information from the press and public.

The Section contains third-party exception which allows governments and/or institutions to withhold information.

Nigerians react
Nigerians have reacted in diverse ways following the announcement to discontinue Lagos-Calabar Highway project.

(Me:
Mission accomplished!
They never planned to do any highway, their plan was the demolitions.)

Below are a few reactions captured on social media:

Obiasogu David, @afrisagacity:

So, Engr. Dave Umahi suspiciously called for a Stakeholders Meeting for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal line for the 3rd time, in Lagos, to announce that Tinubu’s govt will no longer continue with the realignment for the Lagos-Calabar coastal line.

He said the reason to stop the realignment is that there are submarine (network) cables along the coastline that supply network, which are owned by telecoms. If the work proceeds, it will cut into the cables and affect network supply across the country.

Now, asides from the outrageous cost of this Lagos-Coastal coastal line, the major crisis surrounding the project was the demolition of Landmark beach and other multi-million Naira businesses around the coastal line in Lagos, due to the realignment.

It happened that the original design for the project didn’t include Landmark and these other businesses that were demolished. But, all of a sudden, Umahi and his team came up with another design that encroached on these business areas and marked them for demolition.

If you recall, during the 2nd stakeholders meeting, a female journalist challenged Umahi to present the Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) approval for the project. Umahi stammered and reluctantly said it’d be made available to the public, later.

For context, the EIA simply means a report that assesses the impact the project will have on the environment before it kicks off. So, if the report was available, everyone will see the impact of the coastal highway on the areas where it will cut across.

But, during today’s stakeholders meeting, Umahi made a U-turn and said that the plan would not be revealed to Nigerians anymore.

He cited the part of the Freedom of Information bill that gives the govt power to keep some certain information from the public.

Now, this is very funny and suspicious because the demolition of Landmark beach and the other businesses is a public matter that has direct impact on the public. So, why hide the EIA from the public when the information it contains is of huge public concern?

The owner of Landmark and the owners of the other business in the area made logical claims that the initial plan of the project didn’t encroach their business areas. But Tinubu’s govt paid no attention. They were forceful and desperate to demolish the businesses as though some forces were pushing them.

In quick turn, they served landmark and the others notice to vacate the area as it had been marked for demolition.

On April 28th, Umahi announced that the demolition had commenced. He further stated that day that the govt was planning on compensating all affected Businesses – including Landmark.

But again, in surprising twist, Umahi organized another stakeholders meeting on May 1st and announced to Nigerians that they had begun paying compensation of about N2.75 billion.

However, Landmark beach and the other businesses who were verifiably affected would not be part of the beneficiaries. He particularly mentioned two houses as being most affected. He said one of the houses was owned by one Mr Bolaji.

But the media have no details of these people who received the whopping sum of N2.75 billion compensation.

Now, in today’s meeting, Umahi announced that the Lagos-Calabar coastal line will no longer extend to the area where Landmark beach and the other demolished businesses were located – after destroying people’s businesses and sending suffering Nigerians out of their jobs!

The most hurtful truth is that, even before the demolition began, telecoms had told Tinubu’s govt that submarine cables were laid on the coastal lines where they encroached. Umahi and everyone in the team knew and yet, they’re bent on proceeding with the recklessness.

Now, businesses have been demolished, thousands sent out of job, N2.75 billion wasted on compensation, and billions wasted on the initial take off of the project.

Is this an honest mistake or was Tinubu looking for something else other than building a coastal line? .

Could his target have been met? – as the areas that were demolished have been taken over by the federal govt – and we all know who is in charge of the Federal govt?

CHIZOM, @iam_polymath:

See also Hardship: Mother of Three Hands Over Children to Police, Commits Suicide in South East Nigeria
@DavidHundeyin already explained to anyone who cared to listen that this is about the Eko Atlantic project than it’s about any useless road.

The coastal road plan was just a ploy to grab land so that the value of the Eko Atlantic project will not be affected by surrounding structures.

It’s just how brazen this guy did it that makes it so funny.

James, @KD0Jimmy_Q:

In the future the narrative will be that Minister of Works Engr Dave Umahi from South East Nigeria not FG demolished landmark beach & resort owned by Arc Paul Onwuanibe from South East Nigeria & Britain for the purpose of creating a Coastal road which was questioned by the entire country over the necessity & location of that road & the implications on demolishing a tourist attraction center worth millions of dollars without EIA only to eventually say the project will be disembarked as alleged above due to unknown Submarine Cables that should have been identified & stated in the EIA demanded by the public previously. Welcome to ????????.

I am Voice of Hausa, @XpaceReporter:

It is now clear that Tinubu has an interest in the area and wants to evict everyone in order to take over the land, given how special the area is. It is safe to say that he was envious of the owners and wanted them out.

Ugowil ????????, @Ugowil:

When a coven is bent on cooking someone until the person dies nothing stops it unless God intervenes. Tinubu’s government is a gang of criminal devils who are on evil mission…

OnileGogoro, @codshalom77:

See also Onanuga is a ‘militant’ & arrogant, Tinubu should rein him in [Editorial]
The truth will eventually come out in few months or years… most likely by then, his Tinubu’s business partner and owner of HITECH the Chargoury’s would be displaying what their true intentions were!

Dayo, @dhanip_sarah:

This country makes you feel like you are living on a different plane. How can someone or a group of people have so much power to alter other people’s lives as they will, and get away with it, with no one to contend with them & win? It’s very scary thinking about our reality, tbh.

Samokwe, @samokwe:

How Tinubu and Umahi treated Landmark is heartbreaking. No conscience, no compassion.

Olorogunboy, @Olorogunboy:

The owners of the businesses that have been destroyed so far are perceived enemies of the Lagos Boys & the objectives of these boys have been fully achieved. That explains why your brother is doing these needless somersaults. They will NEVER build the coastal highway. That’s the plan.

Ogochukwu, @Uzorland:

@afrisagacity that 2.75b supposedly wasted on compensation might just be another money stolen.

Pablo Jamal, @sunkisstudios:

This is the same tactics he used in taking over Ajah, people who were in Ajah during Tinubu tenure can confirm this, till today many people lost their lands to Tinubu and his gangs. Go to Ajah and verify this.

Polls #My2Cents, @IamJasmine07:

There’s a lot behind this that’s not clear to the eyes. They surely know what they’re doing. Someone in the government is using his power to “deal” with some set of people.

Ifedi, @AnyadubaluIfedi:

Nobody makes a mistake that expensive. They had always known what they were doing and they consider every other thing collateral damage.

Columns

Orji Uzor Kalu

Published

6 days ago

November 29, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

Orji Uzor Kalu MON (born 21 April 1960) is a prominent Nigerian politician, businessman, and former two-term governor of Abia State. He is widely recognized for his influence in both Nigeria’s political landscape and its private sector, particularly in media and diversified business enterprises.

Early Life and Education

Kalu was born in Abia State, where he grew up and began his early education. He later attended the University of Maiduguri but was suspended during a period of student activism. Despite the interruption, Kalu went on to build a successful entrepreneurial career before fully venturing into politics. Over the years, he completed various academic and executive programs, strengthening his profile as a businessman and public administrator.

Business Career

Before entering high-level politics, Kalu established himself as a successful entrepreneur. He is the Chairman of SLOK Holding, a business conglomerate with interests spanning:

trading

manufacturing

shipping

banking

oil and gas

His investments expanded both within Nigeria and internationally. Kalu also holds significant influence in the Nigerian media industry as the chairman and principal owner of The Daily Sun and New Telegraph, two widely circulated national newspapers. Through these enterprises, he has contributed to Nigeria’s media development, business growth, and employment generation.

Political Career

Kalu ventured into politics in the early 1990s. His major political breakthrough came in 1999, when he was elected Governor of Abia State, the first governor of the state under Nigeria’s Fourth Republic. He served two terms from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007.

During his governorship, Kalu focused on:

infrastructural development

education reforms

rural development

fiscal transparency

encouragement of local enterprise

He became known for his bold political style and his outspokenness on national issues. Kalu also played influential roles in national politics, aligning with various political parties at different times and serving as one of the notable political actors in Southeast Nigeria.

Senatorial Career

In 2019, Kalu was elected as the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate. In the Senate, he has participated in legislative debates, sponsored bills, and advocated for policies supporting economic growth, regional development, and national unity.

Legal Challenges

Kalu faced legal controversies regarding corruption allegations linked to his time as governor. He was convicted in 2019 by a Federal High Court; however, the Supreme Court later nullified the conviction, citing procedural errors and ordering a retrial. The development became one of the most widely discussed legal cases involving a high-ranking public official in Nigeria.

Honours and Recognition

Kalu holds the national honour of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON). His political and business careers have earned him recognition across Nigeria and beyond, while his strong media presence continues to shape public discourse.

Personal Life

He is married and has children. Kalu maintains a significant influence in both political and business circles and continues to be an active figure in Nigerian public life.

Columns

THE EXECUTION OF THE 1976 COUP PLOTTERS IN NIGERIA

Published

2 weeks ago

November 24, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

On Friday, February 13, 1976, Nigeria was shaken by a tragic and violent coup d’état led by Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka. The most devastating outcome of this failed coup was the assassination of the nation’s then Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Muhammed. He was gunned down in Ikoyi, Lagos, as he traveled unescorted to his office at the Dodan Barracks. His death sent shockwaves across the country and marked a dark chapter in Nigeria’s post-independence political history.

General Murtala Muhammed had only been in office for approximately 200 days, yet he was deeply admired for his bold reforms, anti-corruption stance, and efforts to return Nigeria to civilian rule. His untimely death sparked outrage, mourning, and swift retribution by the military establishment.

The coup, though partially successful in its initial hours, quickly collapsed. Loyalist forces, particularly those under the command of then Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, Lieutenant General Olusegun Obasanjo, and General Theophilus Danjuma, regained control of strategic institutions. Dimka had temporarily seized the state radio to broadcast his justification for the coup, accusing the Muhammed regime of corruption and maladministration. However, his broadcast was cut short, and he fled Lagos.

Olusegun Obasanjo, after initial hesitation, accepted the call to leadership and succeeded Muhammed as Head of State. His new regime was determined to punish the conspirators severely and deter future insurrections. What followed was one of the most publicized military trials and mass executions in Nigerian history.

The Court-Martial and Executions

Over 100 military personnel and civilians were arrested in connection to the failed coup. Following military investigations and tribunals, dozens were convicted of plotting, aiding, or executing the coup attempt. The convicted officers were sentenced to death by firing squad, and the executions were carried out in two major rounds.

The first set of executions took place on March 11, 1976, at Bar Beach, Lagos, a location known at the time for public executions. Under the supervision of General Obasanjo’s military government, 31 individuals were executed, including senior officers, junior ranks, and one civilian. These included:

1. Major General I. D. Bisalla (former Commissioner for Defence)

2. Warrant Officer II Monday Monchon

3. Staff Sergeant Richard Dungdang

4. Sergeant Sale Pankshin

5. Lieutenant Colonel A. R. Aliyu

6. Captain M. Parvwong

7. Captain J. F. Idi

8. Captain S. Wakins

9. Lieutenant Mohammed

10. Lieutenant E. L. K. Shelleng

11. Lieutenant Colonel Ayuba Tense

12. Colonel A. D. S. Way

13. Lieutenant Colonel T. K. Adamu

14. Lieutenant Colonel A. B. Umaru

15. Captain A. A. Aliyu

16. Captain Augustine Dawurang

17. Major M. M. Mshelia

18. Lieutenant William Seri

19. Major I. B. Ribo

20. Major K. K. Gagra

21. Captain M. R. Gelip

22. Mr. Abdulkarim Zakari (a civilian who assisted in the radio broadcast)

23. Lieutenant Peter Ggani

24. Major Ola Ogunmekan

25. Lieutenant O. Zagmi

26. Lieutenant S. Wayah

27. Sergeant Ahmadu Rege

28. Sergeant Bala Javan

29. Warrant Officer II Sambo Dankshin

30. Warrant Officer II Emmanuel Dakup Seri

31. Major J. W. Kasai

A second round of executions took place between May 15 and 17, 1976, following the capture and trial of the coup leader and his key accomplices. This final round included:

32. Lieutenant Colonel Bukar Suka Dimka (leader of the coup)

33. Joseph D. Gomwalk (former Military Governor of Benue-Plateau State)

34. Lieutenant S. Kwale

35. Warrant Officer H. E. Bawa

36. Colonel I. Buka

37. Major J. K. Afolabi

38. H. Shaiyen

Dimka was captured after a nationwide manhunt and interrogation. During his trial, he remained defiant and refused to express remorse. His execution, along with the others, was carried out in secrecy, though public knowledge of it spread quickly.

These executions were meant to send a clear signal that treason and political instability would not be tolerated. While controversial, especially due to the scale and speed of the trials, the actions taken by the Obasanjo-led government reinforced military discipline and temporarily stabilized Nigeria’s political environment.

General Olusegun Obasanjo would go on to continue the reform agenda of the late Murtala Muhammed and, in 1979, became the first military leader in Nigeria to voluntarily hand over power to a democratically elected civilian government. This marked the beginning of Nigeria’s Second Republic.

The 1976 coup attempt remains one of Nigeria’s most defining political crises, remembered not only for the tragic loss of a visionary leader but also for the massive response it provoked from the military and the Nigerian public.

Columns

Tokunbo Akintola: The First Black African Student at Eton College

Published

2 weeks ago

November 23, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

In April 1964, a quiet but historic milestone was recorded in the educational and social history of both Nigeria and Britain. On the 29th of that month, the family of Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola—then Premier of the Western Region of Nigeria—stood proudly at Eton College in England as his son, Tokunbo Akintola, was formally admitted as the first Black African student in the school’s centuries-long history. At just thirteen years old, Tokunbo stepped into one of the most prestigious educational institutions in the world, a boarding school that had shaped the minds of British royals, aristocrats, intellectuals, and nineteen British Prime Ministers.

The photograph taken that day captures not merely a familial moment but a symbol of cultural diplomacy and evolving global relations. The Akintola family appears in a dignified blend of traditional Nigerian attire and modest Western clothing—a visual representation of their deep Yoruba roots and their engagement with the global stage. Standing at the centre is young Tokunbo, clad in his new school uniform, poised to begin an educational journey many could only dream of. Around him, his family offers a visible aura of pride, hope, and expectation.

Chief Ladoke Akintola, Tokunbo’s father, was by then one of the most influential political figures in Nigeria. A trained lawyer, seasoned journalist, and an orator known for his eloquence, he had risen to become Premier of the Western Region during a turbulent but significant period in Nigeria’s post-independence political evolution. His son’s admission into Eton represented both personal achievement and national symbolism—proof that African families could now step confidently onto platforms historically reserved for the British elite.

Eton College itself stood as an institution of immense reputation. Founded in 1440 by King Henry VI, it had become synonymous with leadership and privilege, producing generations of statesmen, military leaders, and members of the Royal Family. For centuries, its doors had remained firmly closed to Africans. Tokunbo’s arrival in 1964 therefore marked a quiet breaking of barriers, the beginning of a new chapter in cross-cultural educational exchange.

Tokunbo remained at Eton through the late 1960s, navigating the school’s rigorous academic environment and its deeply traditional culture. Those who remember him described him as gentle, intelligent, and quietly charismatic. Yet his life, promising as it was, would be a short one. Four years after leaving Eton, in 1973, Tokunbo Akintola died tragically at a young age, cutting short what many believed could have become a remarkable legacy in law, politics, or diplomacy—fields that seemed perfectly aligned with his upbringing and the reputation of his father.

Today, Tokunbo’s story endures as part of Nigeria’s broader historical narrative. It represents the aspirations of a generation of postcolonial families who sought to blend African identity with global opportunity. It also stands as a reminder of the contributions—and sacrifices—made by those who walked early paths of representation, carrying the hopes of their families and nations with them.

Source:
Getty Images archival description; historical records on Ladoke Akintola and Eton College.