The reported realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway away from parts of Ondo State’s coastline has sparked concerns among South-South stakeholders, who fear that the change could undermine the project’s original coastal development vision and limit economic opportunities for communities across the Niger Delta.
The controversy has intensified following objections from Ilaje communities in Ondo State and Itsekiri leaders in Delta State, who have called on the Federal Government to explain why the proposed coastal alignment was altered and what the decision means for the region.
The highway, conceived as a major infrastructure project linking Nigeria’s coastal states, is expected to improve transportation, facilitate trade and open up economic opportunities along the Atlantic coastline.
However, the reported decision to redirect part of the route inland through sections of Edo State has raised questions about whether communities in Ondo and other coastal areas of the South-South will receive the benefits originally associated with the project.
In September, Ilaje and Itsekiri leaders opposed the reported realignment, urging the Federal Government to retain the coastal route and ensure that communities in the region were not left out of a project intended to improve connectivity along Nigeria’s southern coastline.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has also argued that the controversy goes beyond Ondo State, describing it as an issue with wider implications for the Niger Delta and national development.
Why the Federal Government changed the route
Minister of Works David Umahi has attributed the route alteration to difficult terrain and the high cost of constructing the highway along the original alignment.
Speaking in Abuja, Umahi said parts of the proposed route contained pits exceeding 100 metres in depth and lacked suitable sharp sand within a stretch of about 300 metres.
According to him, the geological conditions would require extensive filling and ground stabilisation, making construction more expensive than along conventional terrain.
He said the government consequently opted for a detour and redesign to avoid the difficult sections, insisting that the decision was based on engineering considerations and the need to ensure value for public funds.
The minister also maintained that the government was entitled to make technical adjustments where necessary to ensure the road’s stability and durability.
However, the explanation has not settled the controversy, with affected stakeholders demanding access to the technical assessments and cost calculations used to justify the change.
South-South stakeholders question economic impact
For communities along the Ondo and Delta coastlines, the concern extends beyond the physical location of the road to its potential effect on jobs, commerce, investment and regional development.
Stakeholders argue that a highway following the coastline could improve access to fishing communities, waterfront settlements, agricultural areas and other locations that have historically faced transportation difficulties.
They also believe improved connectivity could encourage tourism, support local businesses, facilitate the movement of goods and attract investment to parts of the Niger Delta that remain poorly connected by road.
The reported realignment has therefore raised fears that some coastal communities could miss out on opportunities associated with the project if the revised corridor bypasses them.
The Ilaje Omuro Community Connect has called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate the reported route change.
The organisation is demanding an independent engineering assessment, a comparative cost audit and the publication of relevant feasibility studies, geotechnical assessments and environmental impact documents.
It has also questioned the government’s cost justification, arguing that the alternative route should be subjected to an independent comparison before its suitability is accepted.
The organisation’s position is that communities should not be excluded from a major national infrastructure project without a clear, evidence-based explanation.
Concerns over the wider Niger Delta
The controversy has also revived broader concerns about infrastructure distribution and the inclusion of oil-producing communities in development projects across the South-South.
For many stakeholders, the central question is whether the revised alignment will preserve the original objective of connecting coastal communities or shift the project’s benefits towards areas farther inland.
Although the route change concerns the Ondo section, its implications are being discussed in relation to Delta State and the wider Niger Delta, where communities have long sought improved roads, better access to markets and greater investment in transport infrastructure.
However, the extent to which the realignment will affect the eventual route through other South-South states requires clarification from the Federal Government.
Stakeholders are seeking assurances that the revised plan will not weaken connectivity to coastal settlements or undermine the broader economic objectives of the highway.
Calls for transparency and independent review
The dispute has placed renewed attention on the need for transparency in the planning and execution of major public infrastructure projects.
While engineering challenges may justify changing a road’s alignment, affected communities argue that the government should publish sufficient evidence to explain why the original route was considered impracticable and why the alternative offers better value.
An independent assessment comparing the two alignments could examine construction costs, geological conditions, environmental implications, bridge requirements, travel connectivity and the potential economic benefits to affected communities.
Such a review could also help determine whether the revised route adequately serves the project’s intended coastal development objectives.
As pressure for clarification grows, the Federal Government faces calls to reconcile its engineering concerns with the expectations of communities seeking inclusion in the country’s major infrastructure investments.
For South-South stakeholders, the debate is no longer only about where the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will pass. It is also about who will benefit from the project, how the decision was reached and whether the final alignment will deliver on its promise of connecting Nigeria’s coastal economy.
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