The Federal Government reviewed the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway route plan to protect undersea cables regarded as critical national infrastructure for the Nigerian economy, Engineer David Umahi, Minister of Works, has said.
The Minister announced during a 3rd Stakeholders Meeting held Thursday in Lagos with representatives of communities within the alignment of the road, telecoms companies, and other representatives that government revealed a significant change to the planned route for the initial construction leg.
More importantly, the Minister explained that the coastal road project posed a significant risk of damaging critical submarine cables located in the area. These underwater cables are the lifeblood of internet connectivity for not just Nigeria, Umahi noted, but a large part of Africa. Disrupting them could have caused widespread communication outages.
More importantly, the Minister explained that the coastal road project posed a significant risk of damaging critical submarine cables located in the area. These underwater cables are the lifeblood of internet connectivity for not just Nigeria, Umahi noted, but a large part of Africa. Disrupting them could have caused widespread communication outages.
According to him, the alteration stems from concerns raised by communities directly impacted by the initial plan. The originally-proposed path (New-alignment) for kilometres 16 to 25 threatened to disrupt lands considered sacred by residents of the Okun Ajah community. The community located in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, faced the potential demolition of over 2,000 homes to pave way for the highway. They had earlier appealed to the government to revert to the old design in order to save their properties and land.
The revised alignment only applies to a specific section (kilometres 16-25) within the first phase, which itself is over 47 kilometres long. Construction will proceed with the originally proposed new alignment beyond kilometre 25, according to Umahi.
According to the Minister, “to solve MTN 2Africa, Okun Ajah community, we are diverting completely from the new alignment, from the old alignment and we are rejoining back to our new alignment at kilometre 25. Congratulations.
“There is no change of alignment; we are following the gazetted alignment. There would, however, be realignment at Okun Ajah area of the state by 25 kilometres to avoid damaging submarine cables.”
The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, which was designed to span approximately 700 kilometres will cost about N15 trillion, according to government. The highway is expected to connect major cities across nine states, stretching from Lagos in the West to Calabar, located in the South-South region of Nigeria.
Construction officially began in March 2024, with the first phase kicking off near Lagos by Hitech Construction Company Ltd.
However, in a recent development, the Minister has also announced plans to commence construction simultaneously from phase 3 in Calabar and phase 4 in Akwa-Ibom.
“Let me announce also that Mr President has directed that section three that is starting from Calabar and section four that is starting from Akwa Ibom should commence immediately; and so, we are in the process of concluding the procurement,” the Minister.
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