Coastal Highway Row: Umahi Insists Original 750km Route Remains Intact

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has rejected claims that the Federal Government is abandoning or fundamentally changing the route of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that President Bola Tinubu has instead approved plans to add 400 kilometres of reconstruction work on the existing East-West Road.

Umahi made the clarification on Tuesday, October 13, while speaking at the flag-off of the reconstruction of the 376-kilometre Lambata-Bida-Mokwa-Makera-Kontagora highway in Niger State. He said the original 750-kilometre coastal highway remained part of the government’s infrastructure programme, despite controversy over the proposed use of sections of the existing East-West Road.

“The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is 750 kilometres. What the president did is add 400 kilometres,” Umahi said, explaining that the additional work would cover sections of the East-West Road affected by flooding and other infrastructure challenges. The minister’s latest remarks follow a controversy sparked by his earlier explanation that Tinubu had directed officials to route the coastal highway through the existing East-West Road from Ondo State into Edo State, rather than construct an entirely new alignment along that stretch. Umahi quoted the president as instructing the ministry to avoid a new alignment and use the existing corridor.

He subsequently insisted that the directive did not mean the coastal highway had been abandoned. According to the minister, the government intends to reconstruct and integrate the flood-prone sections of the East-West Road into the wider transport network while continuing work on the coastal highway as originally planned.

The government says the East-West Road has become particularly vulnerable to flooding, including around Ughelli in Delta State. Umahi said some sections would need to be raised by approximately two metres to improve their resilience against floodwaters. The proposed intervention, he argued, would address existing engineering problems while improving connectivity across the Niger Delta.

The minister’s assurances have not ended the debate. Critics have questioned whether using the existing road corridor could leave some coastal communities without the direct access originally expected from the project. Senior Advocate of Nigeria Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa has called for greater transparency about the approved route and the communities that would benefit, while the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria has questioned whether flooding and environmental risks were adequately considered during the initial planning.

The Ilaje Omuro Community Connect, representing people of Ilaje origin in Ondo State, has also called for an independent engineering assessment and a public explanation of the reported route change. The group’s concerns underline the stakes for communities whose economic prospects may depend on direct access to the planned highway.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has separately questioned the project’s financing and transparency, alleging that pressure is being mounted on the National Assembly to approve a fresh $20 billion loan linked to coastal highway payments. That remains an allegation; the reports reviewed do not establish that such borrowing has been approved or that the proposed loan is a settled financing arrangement for the additional roadworks.

There are also outstanding questions about the cost and contractual structure of the additional 400-kilometre reconstruction. The government has not publicly provided a full cost breakdown or detailed financing plan for the proposed extension in the reports reviewed. While Umahi maintains that the original 750-kilometre highway remains intact, the distinction between preserving the overall project and changing how particular sections are routed will require clear technical documentation to resolve public concerns.

The broader issue is not simply whether the Federal Government builds more kilometres of road, but whether the final design delivers the connectivity promised to coastal communities while addressing genuine engineering and flood risks. Publishing the route maps, feasibility assessments, cost implications and affected-community plans would help establish whether the additional work strengthens the project or changes its original purpose. For a flagship infrastructure investment of this scale, public confidence will depend on transparent decisions, credible cost controls and evidence that the benefits reach the communities the highway was intended to connect.