Ilaje communities allege rerouting of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

Ilaje communities of Ondo State have accused the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, of injustice over the realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, saying the concept behind President Bola Tinubu’s vision has been bastardized.

Speaking through Dr. Benson Enikuomehin, Esq, Attorney-at-Law, in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, during a press briefing, the communities noted that the redesign of the multi-billion-dollar project was an orchestrated marginalization of the Ilaje people.

The speech was partly read, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took a bold step in February 2024 when he revived the idea of having a coastal highway going through the coast from Lagos to Calabar. The coastal highway had been in the pipeline since the 1970s, but successive governments had paid lip-service to its actualization. The bold step which the President described as “a symbol of hope, unity, and prosperity…it will connect our communities in nine states, foster trade and commerce, boost tourism and create new opportunities,” has rekindled the hopes in the coastal communities of Nigeria particularly those who reside in the Niger-Delta region of the country.

“For us in Ondo State, this is a welcome development. The entire coastline of the state stretches for about 80 – 100km. The area is occupied by the Ilaje of the Yoruba ethnic group. The communities span from Irokun-Agerige-Upare-Ugbonla-Ilepete-Obe-Enikanoselu-Obe-Rewoye-Jirinwo-Awoye-Odun-Igo to Oghoye.

“The speed with which the company that was awarded the project commenced its work is highly commendable. The road took off from the axis of Ahmadu Bello Way in Victoria Island, Lagos and terminates (going through the coast) in Calabar in Cross River State, a distance of 700km.

“It is not in doubt that Hitech Construction Company has made a significant impact from Section 1 of the road, which covers a distance of 47km from Ahmadu Way, Lagos, to Eleko. The Coastal Highway, (as it is called), navigates along the coast all through the sections in Lagos State. When it comes to Ogun State, it slightly moves about 2 – 3km inland to accommodate the development mapped out by the Ogun State government.

“The dispute between Ogun State and Ondo State as regards Eba Island does not bring any controversy as to the fact that Irokun community falls squarely within Ondo State. Not wanting to emerge in the controversy of Eba Island, it can safely be said that from Irokun community, the coastal highway commences in Ondo State.

“It is a known fact that of all the coastal states in Nigeria, Ondo State unarguably has the longest coastline of about 80 – 100km. It is therefore reasonable that the COASTAL HIGHWAY will pass through the coastline communities of Ondo State before getting to Delta State and on through the other states to Calabar,” Enikuomehin stated.

The Attorney expressed dissatisfaction over the minister’s move to realign the original plan.

“It is however very shocking that the concept of the coastal highway has now been bastardized and balkanized by the Ministry of Works under the supervision of Senator David Umahi. More than 60% of the coastal communities in Ilaje LGA of Ondo State have now been bypassed and sidelined. Available records and data reveal that the coastal road has now assumed a new name as “INLAND HIGHWAY ROAD” when it comes to the Ondo State communities. This is courtesy the Minister of Works and his Ministry. The road now passes through Oke-Upare in Ondo State to link communities in Ovia North and Ovia West of Edo State so as to accommodate Gelegele community in Edo State which is about 10 – 20km from the coastline.

“It is not in dispute that Edo State does not have a single coastal community that aborts the sea. The Gelegele community which is closer to the sea has a distance of about 10 – 20km from the coastline.

“The injustice meted to the Ondo State communities by the Ministry of Works (under the supervision of Senator David Umahi) along the coast is both intentional and deliberate. Notable communities such as Ugbonla, Ilowo, Ilepete, Obe-Enikanoselu, Obe-Rewoye, Ikorigho, Jinrinwo, Awoye, Igho etc have completely been taken off the coastal route. These communities fall squarely within the initial coastal route where the coastal highway is meant to pass.

“The injustice, and the orchestrated marginalization against the Ilaje people began when additional 100km was added to the initial 700km (bringing the distance to 800km) to accommodate Edo State AT ALL COST in the Coastal Highway. All the initial drawings and mappings of the road have now been jettisoned.

“It must be noted that the HIGHWAY FROM LAGOS TO CALABAR is meant for the coast. It is not a Niger Delta Affairs: IT IS A COASTAL ROAD! Any State that does not fall within the coast in Nigeria will not be considered. This accounts for why states like Abia and Imo, though oil producing States are not considered in this project.”

He added, “The Federal Ministry of Works and the Minister have argued that the cost of constructing the road through these Ilaje communities is exorbitant. It has been erroneously canvassed that it will cost the Federal Government of Nigeria more money if the road were to traverse through the coastline of Ondo State, which is Ilaje communities. This lame argument is against the weight of evidence in respect of the road.

“Available and indisputable facts reveal that navigating the road through Ugbonla in Ondo State to Escravos in Delta ( on a straight line)  will take about 60 – 75km, whereas the detour to inland in Edo from Ebute-Ipare-Ovia North, Ovia West – Gelegele in Edo State to Warri in Delta is about 130 – 150km.

“While the cost of building 1km road on the axis of Ugbonla through the coastal communities to Escravos will cost ₦ 4 billion to ₦7.5 billion per km, that of constructing same in severe swampy with massive bridges through Oke-Upare to Gelegele in Edo to Warri will cost ₦7.5 billion to ₦12 billion per km.

“The estimated cost of the road through Ugbonla route is about ₦240 billion to ₦450 billion, while the detour to Edo State will cost a whopping sum of ₦970 billion to ₦1.5 trillion. What is more, while the alignment on Ugbonla in Ondo to Escravos in Delta is straightforward and aligns with the concept of “Coastal Highway”, the detour to Edo State is volatile, eroding the immediate shoreline and rendering the concept of coastline a mirage.”

Enikuomehin further stated, “Diverting the road therefore to Edo State is a calculated attempt to marginalize and victimize the coastal communities of Ondo State. While we are not opposed to Edo State benefitting from this project, we strongly maintain that the road must remain COASTAL through Ondo State, passing through Ilaje communities on the coast.

“It is UNFAIR, UNJUST and indeed very WICKED to take the road through 20 – 30km from the sea when it gets to the Ondo State section.

“The Minister of works should not bamboozle us with the high cost of the road because the cost of traversing through Upare – Ovia West – Gele-Gele – Warri is twice the cost of navigating the road through Ugbonla, Ilowo, Ilepete, Obe-Enikanoselu, Obe-Rewoye, Ikorigho, Jinrinwo, Awoye, Igho etc to Escravos in Delta State,” he added.

“We plead with Mr. President to PASSIONATELY look into the plight of our people in Ilaje coastal communities of Ondo State and redress this monumental injustice,” Enikuomehin concluded.