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| Lagos-Calabar highway |
The Federal Government has defended its decision to alter sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the changes are necessary to address flooding, difficult terrain and other engineering challenges.
However, the decision has attracted criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, human rights lawyer Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa and the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), who are demanding greater transparency over the project’s planning, financing and impact on coastal communities.
Minister of Works David Umahi explained that President Bola Tinubu approved the use of the existing East-West Road for the section stretching from the Ondo State boundary into Edo State, rather than constructing an entirely new coastal route.
According to the minister, the affected corridor covers approximately 104 kilometres, including a proposed 45-kilometre bypass.
He said parts of the existing road would also be raised by about two metres to reduce the risk of flooding and improve its long-term durability.
Umahi maintained that the Federal Government had no regrets about its decisions concerning the Ondo section, describing the revised alignment as a product of engineering assessments intended to ensure the successful completion of the highway.
The explanation has nevertheless raised concerns about whether communities originally expected to benefit from the coastal highway would retain direct access to the project.
In a statement dated October 12, 2026, Adegboruwa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, called on President Tinubu to ensure that coastal settlements in Ondo and Delta states were not excluded from the economic opportunities associated with the highway.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Works to publicly clarify the approved route and identify communities that would be connected to or bypassed by the revised alignment.
The lawyer recalled that the 700-kilometre highway, officially inaugurated in May 2024, was presented as a major infrastructure project designed to strengthen transportation and stimulate economic activities along Nigeria's Atlantic coastline.
He expressed concern that shifting portions of the road inland could weaken that objective, particularly for fishing communities and businesses that depend on coastal transportation.
Adegboruwa specifically highlighted the potential implications for Ilaje communities in Ondo State and coastal settlements in Delta State.
He argued that infrastructure development should be assessed not merely by the length of roads completed but also by its ability to connect communities, support livelihoods and promote regional economic growth.
While acknowledging the government's concerns about unstable soil, construction costs, environmental conditions and flood risks, the senior lawyer insisted that such challenges should be subjected to transparent technical evaluation.
He recommended an independent comparison of the original and revised routes, taking into account construction expenses, maintenance requirements, travel distances, environmental effects and employment opportunities.
Adegboruwa also urged the President to organise consultations involving the governments of Ondo and Delta states, traditional rulers, affected communities, engineers, environmental specialists and investors.
He maintained that where retaining the original coastal route proved impracticable, alternative access roads and supporting infrastructure should be provided to ensure that affected communities were not left behind.
Meanwhile, Atiku Abubakar has raised separate concerns about the financial arrangements surrounding the highway.
The former Vice President alleged that pressure was being mounted on the National Assembly to approve fresh borrowing of up to $20 billion in connection with payments for the project.
In a statement issued through Phrank Shaibu, Director of Strategic Communication of the ADC Presidential Campaign Council, Atiku questioned the implications of changing the highway's route after the original approval and contract arrangements.
He demanded that the Federal Government disclose the project's financial details and respond to the allegation concerning the proposed loan.
The borrowing claim remains an allegation, and the information presented does not establish that the National Assembly has approved such a loan.
HURIWA also questioned the circumstances surrounding the route adjustment, arguing that flooding and climate-related risks should have been adequately considered during the project's initial planning.
The rights organisation demanded clarification on whether comprehensive environmental and engineering assessments were conducted before public funds were committed to the original design.
It also called for accountability if investigations established that avoidable planning errors contributed to the changes.
Despite the criticism, Umahi said construction was progressing across different sections of the highway.
The minister disclosed that pavement work on Section Two, covering 55 kilometres, was expected to be completed by November, while work on flyovers, underpasses and overpasses would continue.
He attributed some delays to extensive investigations into underground soil conditions, redesign requirements and the need to accommodate heavy-duty vehicles operating around the Dangote Refinery.
Umahi explained that a major flyover had also been redesigned to address conflicts involving railway infrastructure connected to the deep seaport, refinery access routes and other transport networks.
Providing further updates, he said construction had advanced from the Lagos end towards Ondo State, while work was simultaneously progressing from Calabar.
According to him, more than 40 per cent of the relevant section at the Calabar end had been completed.
He added that Section Five, spanning 62.5 kilometres in Akwa Ibom State, had recorded over 20 per cent progress within three months of commencement.
The minister said the simultaneous construction approach was consistent with Tinubu's directive that work on the administration's four major road projects should begin from both ends to accelerate delivery.
He further disclosed that the Ministry of Works had requested presidential approval to incorporate an additional 400 kilometres into the highway project, extending from Edo State through Akwa Ibom to Cross River State.
Umahi maintained that the government was also pursuing complementary road projects aimed at improving connectivity and addressing persistent flooding across major transportation corridors in the Niger Delta.
As construction continues, the disagreement has placed renewed attention on the balance between engineering requirements, public spending and the economic expectations of communities along the proposed route.
The Federal Government's response to demands for detailed route information, stakeholder consultations and financial disclosure is likely to remain central to the debate surrounding one of the administration's most prominent infrastructure projects.