Ondo coastal communities demand probe into Lagos-Calabar highway route change

The Ilaje Omuro Community Connect (IOCC) has called on the Nigerian federal government to investigate the reported diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway away from the Ilaje Local Government Area in Ondo State. Represented by lawyer Babatunde Omobone, the group is demanding an independent engineering assessment, a public explanation for the decision, and an audit of the financial implications.

The IOCC argues that the route change threatens economic inclusion and fairness for the Ilaje people. To challenge technical justifications for the diversion, the group cited previous successful road projects in the same coastal terrain, such as the Igbokoda-Ugbonla road and a 2010 Niger Delta Development Commission contract.

In response, Minister of Works David Umahi stated that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to align the highway with the existing East-West Road was intended to address climate change. Umahi explained that upgrading the existing route, including raising sections by two metres to mitigate flooding, provides a more sustainable and resilient transport solution.

Separately, residents of Igbokoda have highlighted severe local infrastructure deficits, including electricity outages lasting over six months, lack of potable water, poor drainage, and limited employment opportunities, despite the region's importance to the fishing and oil economies.