N500m Dispute Deepens as Snake Island Communities Accuse Nigerdock of Marginalization
By Naomi Onome
A coalition of civil society organisations and residents of Igbologun, Igboeseyore and Igbosu communities in Snake Island, Lagos, has accused the management of Nigerdock Nigeria Plc led by the CEO, Maher Jarmakani of alleged land encroachment, marginalization and failure to honour agreements reached with the affected communities.
The coalition also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to expedite its investigation into allegations surrounding the payment and disbursement of N500 million said to belong to the communities.
The demands were contained in a statement presented at a world press conference signed by Comrade Olusegun Adeeko, Chairman/Lead Activist, and Comrade Prince Saviour Iche, National President, Ambassador for Peace Enlightenment Foundation.
The coalition alleged that Nigerdock had occupied and utilised a large expanse of land belonging to the communities and subsequently granted part of the area as a concession to SICT FEZ for the construction of a terminal by ITB FEZ, without what it described as the required consent and compensation to the traditional authority and affected communities.
It further alleged that the development had created a fresh dispute over land ownership, compensation and community rights in an area where the communities have raised concerns over what they described as decades of marginalization.
According to the coalition, the affected communities had entered into a Memorandum of Agreement with Nigerdock on February 27, 2004, but alleged that the terms of the agreement had not been implemented.
The coalition said it had attached a copy of the 2004 agreement as Annexure A to its submission and maintained that the document should be considered in resolving the current dispute.
A major aspect of the controversy, according to the coalition, concerns the alleged payment of N500 million to a community development association.
The group alleged that N200 million was paid on December 8, 2022, while subsequent payments of N50 million, N100 million and N150 million were made on July 30, 2024, July 31, 2024 and February 5, 2025 respectively, bringing the total to N500 million.
The coalition claimed that some members of the communities had protested the initial payment and called on Nigerdock to halt further disbursement until questions surrounding representation and entitlement were resolved.
It alleged that the payment was eventually completed despite the concerns raised by some community stakeholders.
The coalition accused Mr Abayomi Oyewole, identified as Nigerdock’s Executive Director, Community Relations and Development, of allegedly playing a central role in the handling of the disputed payment.
It alleged that Oyewole presented a 2022 Memorandum of Understanding to EFCC investigators as the basis for the payment, rather than the February 27, 2004 agreement which the coalition said was signed by Nigerdock and accredited representatives of the communities.
The coalition therefore urged the EFCC to investigate the circumstances surrounding the two documents, the authority under which the N500 million was paid, the beneficiaries and the manner in which the money was disbursed.
It also called for Mr Oyewole to step aside from his community-relations responsibilities pending the outcome of the investigation.
The group said its petition to the EFCC was dated May 12, 2026 and alleged that the petition was assigned to an investigative officer simply identified as ‘Officer Ekpeyoung’ for further investigation.
However, the coalition accused the investigator ‘Officer Ekpeyoung’ of conducting what it described as a “monologue investigation”, alleging that all relevant parties had not been brought together to properly address the conflicting claims.
It further alleged that some of the questions directed at the complainants appeared to focus on how about N3.8 million received by some community representatives was spent, rather than the larger questions surrounding the N500 million.
The coalition said it had submitted documents and other evidence to the EFCC and called for a comprehensive and impartial investigation.
Dispute over Igbologun Baaleship
Another major issue raised at the press conference was the longstanding dispute over the traditional leadership of Igbologun.
Chief Moses Olayiwola Olaleye, who identified himself as the recognised Baale of Igbologun, accused Adams Lateef Oluwo of allegedly presenting himself as Baale and using the position to participate in negotiations concerning the disputed funds.
Olaleye said the issue of the Baaleship was already before the courts and maintained that his emergence followed what he described as the recognised traditional process.
This is another opportunity to own a faster-loading website to expand your business and take it digitally online. Meet the best website designer/master coder for any kind of website. Contact them now it is affordable Chat now: 09077260922
He said the Olu of Iwa and Apapa Kingdom remained the consenting traditional authority whose role could not be ignored in matters concerning the land.
The coalition alleged that the disputed leadership position was used to facilitate negotiations with Nigerdock and the subsequent handling of the N500 million.
The group, however, acknowledged that the Baaleship dispute remains subject to judicial proceedings.
Community alleges exclusion from negotiations
Mr Ridwan Adisa Olaleye, a representative of Igbologun Community, gave another account of the dispute, saying that some sections of the community were allegedly excluded from negotiations involving Nigerdock.
According to him, Igbologun comprises different sections, including Okemedu and Adubebu, and not all sections were involved in the discussions that eventually resulted in the disputed agreement and payment.
Adisa alleged that representatives of some sections had previously informed other stakeholders that they would not participate in negotiations because of their position concerning the Olu of Iwa and Apapa Kingdom.
He said this disagreement subsequently became one of the sources of tension over the sharing of benefits and compensation associated with Nigerdock’s operations.
He further alleged that community representatives only became aware of some of the negotiations after they had already taken place.
The coalition said this demonstrated the need for a transparent and inclusive process in determining legitimate representatives of the affected communities.
Land encroachment allegation
The coalition also raised concerns over what it described as the alleged expansion of Nigerdock’s operations beyond the area covered by the Federal Government acquisition.
It claimed that the land occupied by the company extended beyond the area covered by the relevant government acquisition and alleged that the additional land was subsequently made available for the proposed SICT FEZ terminal.
The coalition called on Nigerdock to suspend the alleged concession and halt further construction by ITB FEZ pending the resolution of the ownership and compensation questions.
It also appealed to the relevant government authorities to establish the exact boundaries of the acquired land and determine whether any portion of the communities’ ancestral land had been encroached upon.
The coalition said it was particularly concerned that the Olu of Iwa and Apapa Kingdom, as well as some affected community leaders, were allegedly not adequately involved in the process.
Describing the alleged conditions in the area as a form of “second slavery”, the coalition also raised concerns about employment practices within Nigerdock.
It alleged that a significant proportion of the company’s workforce were casual workers and called for greater employment opportunities and improved working conditions for indigenes of the affected communities.
The coalition argued that communities hosting major industrial and maritime operations should benefit through employment, infrastructure, education, healthcare and other forms of corporate social responsibility.
Communities’ demands
The coalition presented a 15-point list of demands, including an immediate halt to the alleged encroachment and the proposed concession to SICT FEZ pending resolution of the dispute.
It demanded a thorough investigation into the N500 million payment and called for accountability where wrongdoing is established.
The communities also demanded N5 billion in compensation for what they described as over four decades of uninterrupted occupation and utilisation of their land.
Other demands include extension of the company’s electricity supply to the communities, provision of potable water, construction of standard jetties at Igbologun and Ibafon, provision of boats and barges, and monthly allowances for Baales and chiefs.
They also requested annual scholarships for indigent and brilliant students, construction of a standard residence for the Baale, employment opportunities for indigenes and improved corporate social responsibility from companies operating within the Nigerdock complex.
The communities further demanded the provision of streetlights, recreational facilities, science and laboratory equipment for schools, women and youth empowerment programmes, healthcare centres in the affected villages and opportunities for community members to participate in contracts, labour and equipment supply.
They also called for a structured toll arrangement for heavy-duty vehicles entering the terminal, greater involvement of community representatives in community-relations positions and employment of women, youths and elders from the host communities.
The coalition said it was not opposed to legitimate investment or development in the area but insisted that development must respect the rights of host communities and the authority of recognised traditional institutions.
The group urged the management of Nigerdock, relevant government agencies and the EFCC to address the allegations transparently and ensure that any legitimate agreements reached with the communities are implemented.
Read more:Police, Customs Pledge Deeper Synergy to Combat Crime in Delta State in Nigeria – What We Know
Those identified as attending the press conference included Mr Sikiru Jelili, representative of Igbo Esore Community; Waheed Rufai, representative of Igbo Osu Community; Chief Moses Olayiwola Olaleye, Baale of Igbologun; Chief Onikoyi Jamiu Cole, Balogun of Igbologun; Mr Ridwan Adisa, representative of Igbologun Community; and Mr Ahmed Olayiwola, also representing Igbologun Community.
Leave a Reply