Leaders of the Ilaje and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities have opposed the rerouting of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from coastal communities to inland areas, urging the Federal Government to maintain the original coastal alignment.

The stakeholders made the position known in a resolution reached 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 followed deliberations on the ongoing construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the implications of the proposed route changes on 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 stakeholders called on the Itsekiri Nation to issue a statement condemning the alleged rerouting of the highway by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi.

They argued that the alleged rerouting to non-coastal communities was contrary to the vision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the coastal highway.

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

They also disputed the explanation attributed to Umahi on why the highway could not pass through the coastal communities, describing the claim as “blatant falsehood.”

According to them, the cost of constructing a kilometre of road along the coastal route, including the Ilaje communities in Ondo State and Itsekiri communities in Delta State, was about N4 billion to N7.5 billion, while the proposed diversion through the hinterland would cost between N7.5 billion and N12 billion per kilometre.

The stakeholders further argued that the proposed route would substantially increase the distance of the highway.

“The distance from Olosunmeta to the Itsekiri Axis in Delta State is between 100–110 kilometres. On the other hand, Umahi’s New Route will take 170–190 kilometres, which will increase egregiously the length of the Road and the Cost,” they said.

They also contended that the proposed inland route presented difficult terrain and would require several bridges, unlike the route through the coastal communities.

The stakeholders listed the proposed coastal corridor as running from Olosunmeta through Araromi, Abe-Oroyo, Ogogoro, Ugbonla, Apata, Awoye, Ugbege, Oghoye, Orere, Agogboro and Ode-Ugborodo, among other communities, through the coastline of Delta State.

As part of the resolutions, the Ilaje and Itsekiri leaders agreed to establish a tactical committee comprising representatives of both ethnic nationalities.

The committee, according to the resolution, would engage the Federal Government and appeal for the preservation of what the stakeholders described as the sanctity of the coastal highway as envisioned by the President.

It would also be responsible for sensitising and mobilising traditional institutions, youths, women, professionals and other stakeholders to support the position of the two ethnic nationalities.

The stakeholders further resolved that, where possible, legal action should be pursued “to ensure that justice, equity, and fairness prevail.”

They also agreed to prepare an inclusive memorandum involving traditional institutions, religious leaders, market women, opinion leaders and other stakeholders across the Niger Delta communities of the Ilaje and Itsekiri nations.

The memorandum, they said, would be presented to relevant authorities and institutions to state the reasons the Lagos-Calabar Highway should remain on the coastal corridor through Ondo and Delta states.

The resolution also provided for the establishment of an implementation committee to oversee the mobilisation and coordination of the decisions reached by the two ethnic nationalities.