Businessman Affected by Demolition Praises FG Over Lagos Coastal Road Project

Akin Olaoye, a businessman whose beachfront store was affected by the project, has commended the Federal Government for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road despite being a victim of the demolitions that followed the development.

Olaoye’s retail store for eyewear, which was located within
the Landmark beachfront, was destroyed by the federal government in 2024 during
the commencement of the coastal road project.

The businessman had said he received no compensation from
the federal government.

In an X post on Sunday, Olaoye said he drove along the
Lagos-Calabar coastal road for the first time “after carrying serious
resentment” towards the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

The businessman said he stopped to take a picture at the
spot where his demolished store was once located, adding that he had paid a
“price for the sake of national progress”.

“I stopped to take a picture at the exact spot where one of
my biz locations used to be, Landmark, and I must say, ‘change is inevitable,
‘” he wrote.

“I, too, paid a price for the sake of national progress. I
was wrong on this one. Kudos to the presidency for delivering this
transformative project. Hon. Minister Dave Umahi, oga, me, and you still get
small beef sha!”

Drove along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway today for the first time in years after carrying serious resentment toward the BAT administration as someone who once stood in opposition. I stopped to take a picture at the exact spot where one of my biz locations used to be… pic.twitter.com/G6hE2TmUp3

— Akin Olaoye (@akintollgate) March 8, 2026

Other sections of the coastal road projects are currently
under construction.

In 2024, the federal government commenced the construction
of the 700-kilometre coastal highway project, which is expected to run through
the shoreline of beach resorts in Lagos, while traversing eight other states.

The project had generated plenty of controversy. Concerns
were raised over funding and the businesses that will be impacted during
construction.

Several businesses and homes were marked for demolition. The
affected homeowners and business personnel vehemently opposed the project.

The popular Landmark Beach and other businesses within the
beach area were affected by the demolition.

In December 2025, the federal government temporarily opened
a 47-kilometre section of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway for vehicular
movement.

The section runs from the Ahmadu Bello Way junction in
Victoria Island to the Eleko junction in Lagos state.

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