The works minister says the Ondo-to-Edo stretch will follow the existing road, with flood-prone sections raised by about two metres, as he defends the Ondo detour

President Bola Tinubu has directed that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway be re-routed through the existing East-West road from Ondo State into Edo State, instead of building a new alignment, Works Minister Dave Umahi has said.

Umahi spoke at a briefing in Abuja this week on the president’s four legacy road projects. He quoted Tinubu as saying: “Divert, do not do any new alignments.”

Why the coastal highway is being re-routed

The Minister of Works said the directive was meant to stop a new alignment from being built along the corridor. Flooding on the East-West road, particularly around the Ughelli axis in Delta State, also informed the decision, he said.

He said the East-West road was built before the effects of climate change were properly anticipated, and that recent flooding had raised concerns about its vulnerability. Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has intervened over the flooding, he added.

The federal government plans to raise sections of the road by about two metres above the existing level and expected flood levels. Umahi called Tinubu’s decision “one of my happiest days.”

He said the corridor would end around the Ondo-Edo axis, and put the length of the Ondo-Edo corridor, including the 45-kilometre Benin bypass, at 104 kilometres. The bypass is designed to ease traffic congestion in Benin City.

Umahi defends the Ondo coastal highway detour

Umahi also defended the realignment of sections of the highway in Ondo State. “I am aware of petitions against me saying I diverted the Ondo section. I welcome that,” he said. “We have no regret for decisions taken in Ondo.”

He said the original route crossed pits more than 100 metres deep and areas without suitable sharp sand to a depth of 300 metres, which would have sharply raised costs. The ministry redesigned the route to avoid the terrain, he said, and is filling over 10 metres with sharp sand. That work is almost concluded.

The realignment affects sections 4A and 4B, covering 67 kilometres, of which 27 kilometres is in Ogun State and about 40 kilometres in Ondo State.

The move has drawn criticism. An opinion piece on Pointblank News argues that the government must explain the scientific and statutory process behind the route change and publish a revised master alignment showing where the highway joins existing roads.

Coastal highway update: sections and timelines

The Minister gave an update on the wider project:

• Section one: the 47.47-kilometre stretch from Victoria Island, Lagos, is complete and ready for commissioning.
• Section two: dual pavement on the 55-kilometre section, ending at the Lagos-Ogun boundary, is expected to be completed next month. The ministry has redesigned flyovers, overpasses and underpasses around the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport to resolve traffic conflicts.
• Sections 3A and 3B: the 65 kilometres at the Calabar end are more than 30 per cent complete.
• Section five: work is ongoing on the 82-kilometre dual carriageway in Akwa Ibom State, and on an 88-kilometre link from Calabar to Ebidi beach meant to connect to the Trans-Saharan route.
• Edo-Delta to Delta-Bayelsa: route surveys and procurement are ongoing for a 129-kilometre dual carriageway, with construction expected to begin in November.
• Other Niger Delta projects: the 15-kilometre Eleme junction-to-Onne road and the 9.7-kilometre Eket bypass.

The Minister added contractors had been mobilised for emergency repairs and reconstruction on the road linking Akwa Ibom to Calabar through Odukpani. The contract previously handled by CCECC had been reduced in scope because of funding constraints, he said.