Property owners in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, are demanding N154.25 million from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) as compensation for the forceful takeover of their homes during railway construction in 2018.
Five families from Adisa Estate along Murtala Muhammed Way, Oba Akinola Ovetade Akinrera, Alhaja Aisha Aminu Gwadabe, Alhaja Sadiat Abdulazeez, Mr. Justin Ajufo, and Mr. Ayodele Joseph Ojo had dragged the NRC to the Federal High Court in 2019 over the demolition of their properties.
In a judgment delivered on May 9, 2023, Justice Y. Bogoro ruled that the acquisition violated due process and awarded N10 million in damages, noting that NRC officials, backed by over 100 armed policemen, entered the properties without prior notice.
READ ALSO: NRC Resumes Warri-Itakpe Train Operations October 29
Although 19 property owners were initially profiled for compensation by Dupe Longe and Associates, appointed by the Federal Ministry of Transportation through CCECC, five families rejected their entitlements at the time.
NRC spokesperson Adeyinka Aderibigbe confirmed that two of the five have now indicated readiness to collect payment.
However, the families’ lawyer, Akeem Aponmade, insists the homeowners are entitled to the full amount due to them. In an October 8, 2025, letter received by NRC the next day, he formally demanded N154.25 million based on earlier certified valuations.
READ ALSO: NRC Confirms Abuja-Kaduna Train Derailment, Rescue Operations Underway
Aponmade said his clients simply want “adequate compensation for the unlawful seizure of their property.”
The development underscores ongoing tensions between government infrastructure expansion and the protection of citizens’ property rights.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.