Nigerians in the diaspora, particularly investors based in the United States, have vowed to escalate their grievances to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over the alleged threat to their $250 million investment.
The dispute arises from the reported diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway route in the Okun Ajah area of Lagos State, a move they claim jeopardizes their properties and financial commitments.
The investors, who recently staged a protest in Chicago, USA—just weeks after a similar demonstration in Houston, Texas—expressed their determination to continue fighting against what they describe as a miscarriage of justice.
They also urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene, highlighting the impact on hundreds of Nigerian and foreign investors who had repatriated funds to support his Renewed Hope Agenda.
The aggrieved investors called for a thorough, high-profile investigation into the circumstances surrounding the alleged road diversion, insisting that the President must uphold his promises to Nigerians in the diaspora regarding investment security and economic contributions.
Engr. Stella Okengwu, a key facilitator of the foreign investment and CEO of Winhomes Global Services, spoke during the Chicago protest, decrying the destruction of properties owned by Nigerians abroad and foreign investors.
She warned that such actions send negative signals to the international community.
“I want the world to know that these properties were legitimately sold, and I am standing up for investors across the globe. How do you explain to an American who believed in Nigeria and invested here that their property has been seized by the government? This is nothing short of an investment scam, and we will fight to expose it,” Okengwu stated.
She further emphasized that if Nigerian authorities fail to act, they will push for global attention.
“We will ensure this issue reaches Homeland Security and the FBI. If necessary, we will take our protests across the U.S. to put an end to this impunity because this is not about public interest—it is about private interest. I have videos showing nearly 400 demolished houses. Many of these investors had proper documentation, yet their properties were taken. Some homes valued at over N200 million were compensated with as little as N26 million or N31 million. I will personally document and expose this injustice to the world.”
Another protester, Oluwadare Joseph, criticized President Tinubu’s silence on the matter, urging him to address the plight of affected investors. He also called for an investigation into allegations of bribery and corruption linked to the road diversion.
Adekunle Adeleke, popularly known as Nairaflash, appealed to the President not to let the actions of certain government officials discourage future investments in Nigeria. He expressed concerns that years of hard work and financial commitments from Nigerians abroad were being destroyed.
Kimberly Stark, an American investor, shared her regrets over investing in Nigeria and urged authorities to address the issue immediately. She stressed that resolving the situation would encourage other foreign investors to consider Nigeria as a viable investment destination. Stark also called for an investigation into corruption allegations involving top government officials.
The investors remain resolute in their demand for justice and have vowed to continue pushing for international scrutiny until the Nigerian government takes decisive action.