….Seeks unbiased engineering evaluation, value audit of Ondo route realignment
By Dayo Johnson, Akure
A group organisation, Ilaje Omuro Neighborhood Join (IOCC), has petitioned President Bola Tinubu, the Nationwide Meeting and anti-corruption companies over the alleged realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway away from the shoreline of Ondo State.
The group described the reported route change as an financial and geographical injustice towards Ilaje communities, demanding an unbiased engineering evaluation, a comparative value audit and the publication of related venture paperwork.
In an announcement signed by its counsel, Babatunde Omobone, IOCC mentioned it represented greater than 1,000 indigenes of Ilaje Native Authorities Space and urged the Federal Authorities to supply a clear clarification for the reported change.
The 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Freeway is likely one of the main infrastructure initiatives of the Tinubu administration. Flagged off in March 2024, the freeway is designed to run from Victoria Island, Lagos, by means of Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states to Calabar, Cross River State.
The Federal Authorities says the venture is meant to develop coastal commerce, tourism and logistics, with deliberate options together with six lanes, concrete pavement, photo voltaic lighting and practice tracks.
Controversy over the Ondo axis emerged following stories that the Federal Ministry of Works had realigned the freeway away from the Ilaje shoreline in direction of an inland hall.
In accordance with IOCC and different stakeholders from Ilaje and Itsekiri communities, the unique survey and Environmental Influence Evaluation (EIA) indicated that the freeway would enter Ondo State from Ogun State at Olosunmeta and go by means of Araromi, Abetobo, Abe-Oroyo, Ogogoro, Ayetoro, Awoye, Molutehin, Ugbonla, Ilowo, Ilepete, Obe-Enikanoselu, Obe-Rewoye, Ikorigho, Jinrinwo and Igbo-Egunrin earlier than reaching the Igbokoda waterfront and linking Ode-Ugborodo and Escravos in Delta State.
The group put the stretch at about 60 to 110 kilometres.
It alleged that the route had as an alternative been diverted from Oke-Upare inland by means of Ovia North and Ovia West in Edo State to Gelegele, mentioned to be 10 to twenty kilometres from the ocean, earlier than connecting to Warri in Delta State.
IOCC claimed the choice alignment would span between 130 and 190 kilometres and traverse swampy terrain requiring intensive bridge development.
Umahi defends realignment
The group questioned the engineering justification given by the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, for the reported change.
Umahi, at a briefing in Abuja final Wednesday, defended the choice, saying it was based mostly on sound engineering issues and that the federal government had no regrets over it.
“We have now no remorse for choices taken at Ondo. For us, it’s their proper to jot down a petition; it’s my proper to take the fitting resolution,” the minister mentioned.
He defined that sections of the unique route contained pits greater than 100 metres deep, with no sharp sand inside 300 metres, making development technically troublesome and costlier due to the intensive filling and floor stabilisation required.
Nevertheless, IOCC disputed the fee argument, estimating that development alongside the unique coastal route would value between N4 billion and N7.5 billion per kilometre, in contrast with N7.5 billion to N12 billion per kilometre for the inland alignment, which it mentioned would contain troublesome terrain and intensive bridges.
The group cited earlier highway initiatives in related terrain to problem the suggestion that the Ilaje hall was unsuitable for development.
It referenced the Igbokoda-Ugbonla highway, constructed by the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Growth Fee (OSOPADEC), and a Ugbonla-Awoye highway contract reportedly awarded by the Niger Delta Growth Fee (NDDC) in 2010.
“If roads might be constructed throughout the Ilaje coastal setting, what particular engineering, geological, environmental or monetary issues make the proposed coastal freeway route impracticable?” the group requested.
It referred to as on the Ministry of Works to publish the feasibility research, geotechnical and soil investigations, EIA stories and comparative cost-benefit analyses for each alignments.
IOCC additionally demanded an unbiased evaluation by certified engineers, arguing that advances in bridge development, coastal safety and tunnelling needs to be thought of earlier than the coastal hall was dominated impracticable.
Group warns of financial penalties
Past the technical questions, IOCC mentioned the reported realignment had important financial and social implications for coastal communities.
The group mentioned Ilaje had Nigeria’s longest shoreline, estimated at between 80 and 100 kilometres, and contributed greater than 60,000 barrels of crude oil every day, but continued to face sea incursion, coastal erosion, poor highway entry and restricted financial alternatives.
It listed Abereke, Orioke, Magbehinwa, Idiogba, Mese, Ayetoro and Awoye-Odofado among the many communities it mentioned could possibly be affected.
In accordance with the organisation, excluding the coastal axis might restrict alternatives in fisheries, agriculture, tourism, commerce and logistics, discourage funding and additional isolate communities whose ancestral properties, fishing grounds and livelihoods have been already threatened.
The petition follows a joint decision by Ilaje and Itsekiri leaders in Lagos on September 19, 2026, at which the 2 teams reportedly agreed to work collectively to make sure that the freeway retained its unique coastal route and threatened authorized motion over the alleged diversion.
Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, and pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere have additionally criticised the reported realignment, arguing that shifting a coastal freeway inland might undermine its meant objective.
Seeks Tinubu’s intervention
IOCC urged Tinubu to intervene, the Nationwide Meeting to train its oversight powers and the Federal Ministry of Works to supply a complete public clarification supported by verifiable knowledge.
It additionally referred to as on the Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) to scrutinise any credible proof of economic misconduct, abuse of workplace or improper affect linked with the route change.
“This can be a name for accountability, not a declaration of guilt. Any allegation of wrongdoing needs to be investigated pretty, and any findings needs to be based mostly on verifiable proof,” the group mentioned.
The organisation additional demanded significant consultations with affected communities, conventional establishments and civil society earlier than a ultimate resolution was taken on the alignment.
It harassed that its marketing campaign was not directed towards any particular person or state however was meant to make sure equity within the implementation of a significant nationwide infrastructure venture.
“The Ilaje persons are Nigerians. Ondo State is an integral a part of the Nigerian federation. The coastal communities of Ilaje should be thought of pretty in choices regarding a significant nationwide coastal freeway,” the group mentioned.
