by Chukwuma Umeorah
The Federal Government has announced that the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project will be released to the public in three months. Minister of Works David Umahi stated that President Bola Tinubu will officially flag off the project on Sunday, May 26.
At the 3rd stakeholders meeting for the coastal highway project in Lagos, Abass Suleimon, Director at the Federal Ministry of Environment, confirmed that the government had complied with all necessary environmental regulations and that the ESIA report was ready. This announcement follows concerns about the lack of transparency regarding the environmental impact of the project.
Suleimon stated, “The environment has been studied extensively; there is sufficient data on the project. Section 15B of the Freedom of Information Act allows the federal government to withhold information based on environmental testing. However, the completed ESIA will be available on our websites within the next two to three months.”
Minister Umahi detailed significant adjustments to the project’s route to address stakeholder concerns. The most notable change involves reverting to the gazetted alignment between kilometres 16 and 25 of the 47-kilometre highway. This decision followed extensive consultations with affected parties, including telecommunications companies, to avoid disrupting submarine communication cables, which are vital for national security and internet connectivity.
“We have three critical infrastructures located in one spot: the 2Africa submarine cable, the West African cable systems (WACS), and the Mopo landing site. Disrupting these cables would have severe consequences, as seen in a recent incident that caused internet outages across several African countries,” Umahi explained.
The decision to revert to the old alignment will result in the demolition of 750 houses, as opposed to 490 under the new plan. Umahi described this choice as tough but necessary. “To address MTN, 2Africa, and Okun Ajah community concerns, we are reverting to the old alignment and rejoining the new alignment at kilometre 25,” he declared, receiving applause from stakeholders.
Residents of the Okun Ajah community expressed relief and gratitude for the government’s responsive approach, praising the Tinubu administration for preserving their ancestral homes and heritage.
The federal government also announced the immediate commencement of construction on sections three and four of the highway, starting from Calabar and Akwa Ibom respectively. This aligns with President Tinubu’s directive to ensure balanced development across different regions of the project.