– Raise fears over exclusion, demand probe, independent engineering assessment
Fidelis David in Akure
Coastal communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the alleged diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway away from the proposed Ilaje coastal axis, demanding an independent engineering assessment, a transparent review of the route decision and an audit of its financial implications.
The communities, under the umbrella of Ilaje Omuro Community Connect (IOCC), also urged the National Assembly and relevant anti-corruption agencies to scrutinise the circumstances surrounding the alleged route alteration, insisting that the federal government must provide verifiable evidence to justify any decision that could exclude the oil-producing coastal communities from a major national infrastructure project.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its lawyer and representative, Babatunde Omobone, the organisation, which said it had more than 1,000 members of Ilaje extraction, expressed concern over explanations allegedly offered by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, regarding the route decision.
It maintained the issue extended beyond the construction of a highway, arguing the reported diversion raised fundamental questions about equitable development, economic inclusion, environmental protection and the treatment of coastal communities in the implementation of nationally significant infrastructure projects.
“The issue at stake is not merely the construction of a road; it is a question of fairness, economic inclusion, environmental protection, and the right of the Ilaje people to benefit equitably from a major national development project,” the statement said.
To challenge arguments reportedly advanced against the feasibility of the Ilaje route, IOCC cited previous road construction interventions in the area, including the Igbokoda-Ugbonla road undertaken by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) and a reported 2010 contract awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the Ugbonla-Awoye axis.
The group argued that the projects warranted a detailed explanation of the technical considerations behind the reported route change, asking the Federal Ministry of Works to identify the specific geological, environmental, engineering or financial constraints that could make the proposed Ilaje alignment impracticable.
“If roads can be constructed within the Ilaje coastal environment, what specific engineering, geological, environmental, or financial considerations make the proposed coastal highway route impracticable?”
it asked, demanding the publication of relevant feasibility studies, geotechnical assessments, environmental impact assessments and comparative cost estimates.
IOCC also called for an independent assessment by qualified engineering professionals, insisting that a decision with far-reaching implications for public infrastructure, regional connectivity and the expenditure of public funds should be supported by credible technical evidence and subjected to professional scrutiny.
Although the organisation acknowledged that highway routes could legitimately be altered for engineering, environmental, safety or economic reasons, it maintained that any decision to move the proposed highway away from Ilaje must be accompanied by a clear, evidence-based explanation accessible to the public.
The group further argued that advances in bridge construction, coastal protection, tunnelling and other civil engineering techniques justified examining available options before ruling out a challenging terrain. It, however, acknowledged that engineering solutions adopted in other locations did not automatically establish that the Ilaje route would be technically feasible or economically viable.
Questioning what it described as an apparent inconsistency in the proposed alignment, the organisation asked why the highway might serve coastal areas in Lagos and Ogun states but depart from the proposed coastal corridor in Ondo State without a convincing public explanation.
According to IOCC, communities in the Ilaje coastal belt continue to contend with sea incursion, coastal erosion, inadequate transportation infrastructure and limited access to economic opportunities.
It identified Abereke, Orioke, Magbehinwa, Idiogba, Mese, Ayetoro and Awoye Odofado among the communities affected by environmental degradation.
It said the challenges threatened ancestral homes, fishing grounds, livelihoods and cultural heritage, stressing that decisions on the highway’s alignment should take into account the broader development needs of the coastal population.
The organisation, however, noted that the extent to which the project could address these challenges would depend on its engineering design and the environmental protection measures incorporated into its construction.
Beyond the environmental concerns, IOCC warned that excluding the Ilaje coastal axis could constrain opportunities in fisheries, agriculture, tourism, trade and logistics by limiting access to markets, weakening regional connectivity and discouraging investment in the area.
It consequently demanded the federal government publish a comparative assessment of the original proposed alignment and any alternative route, detailing construction costs, long-term economic benefits, environmental implications and the overall value for public money.
The organisation urged Tinubu to intervene, the National Assembly to exercise its oversight responsibilities and the Federal Ministry of Works to provide a comprehensive explanation for the reported route alteration. It also called on the relevant authorities to determine whether the decision represented the most technically sound and economically beneficial option for the country.
On the role of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), IOCC called for the investigation of any credible evidence of financial misconduct, abuse of office, improper influence or other economic and financial crimes connected with the route decision or related contract arrangements.
“This is a call for accountability, not a declaration of guilt. Any allegation of wrongdoing should be investigated fairly, and any findings should be based on verifiable evidence,” the group stressed.
The group also demanded meaningful consultations with affected communities, traditional institutions and civil society organisations, arguing that the people of Ilaje should be given the opportunity to present their concerns before decisions with far-reaching consequences for their future are finalised.
Reaffirming its support for national infrastructure development, IOCC said its position was not motivated by hostility towards any individual, institution or state, but by the need to ensure fairness, transparency and equitable development.
“The Ilaje people are Nigerians. Ondo State is an integral part of the Nigerian federation. The coastal communities of Ilaje deserve to be considered fairly in decisions concerning a major national coastal highway,” the statement said.
The organisation urged the federal government to ensure that the final route decision was guided by credible technical evidence, sound economic reasoning and the interests of affected communities, insisting that the people of Ilaje deserved clear answers on a project with potentially significant implications for their economic future.