The Federal Government has reportedly removed Ondo State from the planned route of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, with Minister of Works David Umahi citing the high cost of restoring the original alignment through the state.
Umahi reportedly disclosed that the cost implications of returning the highway to its original route through Ondo’s coastal area were too substantial, prompting President Bola Tinubu to approve an alternative alignment that bypasses the state.
The development could raise concerns about Ondo State’s inclusion in the benefits expected from the multi-billion-naira coastal infrastructure project, particularly regarding connectivity, economic activities and investment opportunities along the coastline.
The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the Federal Government’s flagship infrastructure projects, designed to improve transportation links along Nigeria’s southern coastline.
However, the reported diversion raises questions about the implications for communities and businesses in Ondo State, as well as the considerations that informed the decision to alter the original route.
The Federal Government is expected to clarify the revised alignment and explain how the change will affect the project’s overall scope and the states along Nigeria’s coastal corridor.
