Ilaje, Itsekiri Leaders Reject Rerouting Of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

Leaders of the Ilaje and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities have opposed the proposed rerouting of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from coastal communities to inland areas, calling on the Federal Government to retain the original alignment through Ondo and Delta states.

The stakeholders made their position known in a resolution adopted at a joint meeting of leaders of thought from Ilaje communities in Ondo State and Itsekiri communities in Delta State, held in Lagos on Saturday.

The meeting focused on the ongoing construction of the coastal highway and the reported implications of the proposed route changes for communities in the two states.

In the resolution signed by Barrister Austin Nonen Oboroegbeyi and Comrade Amaechi Omagbitse on behalf of the Itsekiri ethnic nationality, and Dr Benson Enikuomehin FCPA and Dr Adeolu Austin Efotan for the Ilaje ethnic nationality, the leaders called on the Itsekiri Nation to issue a statement condemning the alleged rerouting of the project by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.

The stakeholders argued that diverting the highway away from coastal communities would undermine the vision behind the project, insisting that the original route should be preserved.

“The Ilaje and Itsekiri have agreed to work together in making sure the Coastal Road maintains its Original Route, passing through the Coastal Communities,” the leaders stated.

They also rejected the explanation attributed to the Minister of Works regarding the feasibility of constructing the highway through the coastal communities, describing the claim as false.

According to the stakeholders, the estimated cost of constructing a kilometre of road along the coastal route, including the Ilaje communities in Ondo State and Itsekiri communities in Delta State, ranges from N4 billion to N7.5 billion. They claimed that the proposed inland alignment would cost between N7.5 billion and N12 billion per kilometre.

The leaders further maintained that the proposed rerouting would significantly increase the length of the highway and raise the overall construction cost.

They said the distance from Olosunmeta to the Itsekiri axis in Delta State was estimated at between 100 and 110 kilometres along the coastal alignment, while the proposed alternative route would cover approximately 170 to 190 kilometres.