A committee of lawyers and stakeholders from Ilaje communities in Ondo State has asked the Federal Government to restore the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to its original coastal alignment through the state, alleging that the current route has bypassed several coastal communities and diverted the project inland through Edo State. Attorney-at-Law Dr Benson Enikuomehin, speaking for the group at a press conference in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, urged the Federal Ministry of Works to adhere to the original coastal alignment.
The demand followed concerns raised by Afenifere in August over the alleged abandonment of parts of the Ondo coastal communities. Responding at the time, Minister of Works David Umahi said government preferred the coast but engineering considerations could affect the alignment: "When we designed the coastal highway within this section, yes, we designed it to go through the coast, just about two kilometres off the shoreline."
Enikuomehin alleged the current alignment deviated substantially, particularly in Ondo State, which has the longest coastline (80-100km) of Nigeria's coastal states: "More than 60 per cent of the coastal communities in Ilaje LGA have now been bypassed and sidelined... the coastal road has now assumed a new name as 'Inland Highway Road' when it comes to the Ondo State communities, passing through Oke-Upare to communities in Ovia North and Ovia West LGAs of Edo State, including Gelegele."
He listed excluded communities: Ugbonla, Ilowo, Ilepete, Obe-Enikanoselu, Obe-Rewoye, Ikorigho, Jinrinwo, Awoye and Igho, adding that an extra 100km had been added (700km to 800km) "to accommodate Edo State at all costs". He argued a direct Ugbonla-to-Escravos coastal route (60-75km at N4bn-7.5bn/km, est. N240bn-450bn) is cheaper than the swampy inland detour via Gelegele to Warri (130-150km at N7.5bn-12bn/km, est.
N970bn-1.5tn), and cited the NDDC's 2010 Ugbo-Oghoye Road Phase 1 (40km, N19.4bn, BPP certificate BPP/S.1/Vol.VI/O9/222) as proof Ilaje terrain is buildable. He alleged discrimination under Section 42 of the 1999 Constitution and appealed to President Tinubu to intervene: "While we are not opposed to Edo State benefiting from this project, we strongly maintain that the road must remain coastal through Ondo State."
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has been controversial since construction commenced, over legislative approval, environmental impact assessments and alleged destruction of houses/businesses along the Lagos shoreline. Source: https://punchng.com/lagos-calabar-road-ondo-lawyers-seek-restoration-of-coastal-route/
