WinHomes: Only Structure Built On That Land is Just A Gatehouse — Umahi

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has questioned WINHOMES Global Services Limited’s reported $250 million investment in land affected by the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway project, arguing that the property had little development beyond agatehouse.

According to a report published by Arise News on October 26, 2026, Umahi challenged the company’s chief executive, Stella Okengwu, to provide financial records supporting the investment claim.

The minister questioned how such a substantial amount could have been raised without clear documentation showing the funds’ movement and the identities of the investors.

Umahi also argued that the condition of the property did not reflect the scale of investment being claimed.

He maintained that the visible development was limited and questioned whether the reported funds could be substantiated through the appropriate financial channels.

The dispute centres on land in the Okun Ajah area of Lagos State, where the coastal highway’s alignment has become a source of disagreement between the federal government and WINHOMES.

The company has maintained that the project affected its real estate development and that the reported $250 million represents investment attracted from Nigerians in the diaspora and other international partners.

In March 2026, The Sun Nigeria reported that Okengwu clarified that the $250 million figure referred to the estimated foreign investment associated with the estate project, rather than the compensation the company was demanding from the government.

She also disputed the suggestion that the site lacked meaningful development, citing land preparation and other construction-related work.

These competing accounts have kept attention on the evidence behind the investment claim, the extent of the work completed on the property and the circumstances surrounding the highway alignment.

The financial question is particularly significant because Umahi has called for documentation that could establish the source and movement of the reported funds.

However, his allegations should not be treated as proof of financial misconduct without verified evidence or an authoritative finding.

The controversy also raises broader questions about the relationship between major public infrastructure projects and private property interests.

Highway construction can affect landowners and developers, making clear documentation, transparent procedures and appropriate compensation important to resolving disputes.

For WINHOMES, the issue involves its account of the investment and the impact of the road project on the estate.

For the Ministry of Works, the dispute includes questions about the development present on the affected land and the evidence supporting the company’s claims.

The disagreement therefore extends beyond the gatehouse mentioned by Umahi.

It concerns the competing accounts of a substantial real estate investment and the land affected by one of Nigeria’s major coastal road projects.