Ilaje Group Petitions Tinubu Over Lagos-Calabar Highway Route Change

The Ilaje Omuro Community Connect (IOCC) has petitioned President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly and anti-corruption agencies over the alleged realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway away from the Ondo State coastline. The group, representing over 1,000 indigenes of Ilaje Local Government Area, describes the reported diversion as an economic and geographical injustice.

In a statement signed by counsel Babatunde Omobone, IOCC demands an independent engineering assessment, a comparative cost audit and the public release of project documents. The organisation urges the Federal Government to provide a transparent explanation for the change.

“The reported route change is an economic and geographical injustice against Ilaje communities.”

The 750-kilometre highway, flagged off in March 2024, is designed to run from Victoria Island, Lagos, through eight states to Calabar, Cross River State. Planned features include six lanes, concrete pavement, solar lighting and train tracks.

According to IOCC and local stakeholders, the original survey and Environmental Impact Assessment showed the route entering Ondo from Ogun at Olosunmeta and passing through numerous coastal communities including Araromi, Ayetoro and Igbokoda waterfront. The group puts this coastal stretch at 60 to 110 kilometres.

The organisation alleges the route has instead been diverted inland from Oke-Upare through Ovia North and Ovia West in Edo State to Gelegele, bypassing the Ilaje coastline entirely.