FG Disembarks On Lagos-Calabar Highway Realignment Due to Submarine Cables – Umahi

The Nigerian Federal Government has declared its intention to withdraw from the planned realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

This decision was made public during the 3rd Stakeholders Meeting held in Lagos, where Minister of Works Dave Umahi confirmed that the proposed change in route would be abandoned due to the presence of submarine cables along the coastline.

Umahi also stated that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report would not be released at this time, citing Section 15 (b) of the Freedom of Information Act as justification for withholding certain information from both the media and general public.

The specific section referenced by Umahi pertains to safeguarding third-party information, allowing government bodies to refuse access to journalists or citizens seeking such details.

In response to warnings from telecommunication companies about potential network outages, the government has chosen to halt plans for a diversion that could disrupt internet connectivity and result in the destruction of ancestral homes in the Okun-Ajah community.

Residents of Okun-Ajah expressed gratitude in a video shared by journalist Laila Johnson-Salami for the government’s decision under the Tinubu-led administration.

While past demolitions impacted private businesses along the beachfront, such as Land Mark, officials are now exploring alternative routes to maintain progress on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.