The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended the Federal Government’s decision to divert the Ondo section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, citing difficult terrain, construction challenges and the need to protect public funds.

Umahi said the original route passed through areas with pits exceeding 100 metres in depth and lacked suitable sharp sand for up to 300 metres, making construction significantly more expensive than building on normal terrain.

The minister spoke in Abuja while providing an update on President Bola Tinubu’s four legacy road projects, insisting that the decision to change the route was driven by engineering considerations rather than political interests.

His defence comes amid petitions challenging the diversion of the highway in Ondo State.

“I am aware of petitions against me saying I diverted the Ondo section. I welcome that. That is how it is supposed to be because we are serving the public. You are subject to public scrutiny,” Umahi said.

He maintained that the critical issue was whether the government had made the right engineering decision.

“But the important thing is whether you are doing the right thing or the wrong thing. We have no regret for decisions taken in Ondo,” he added.

Explaining the challenges associated with the original alignment, Umahi questioned why the government should spend the same amount per kilometre on difficult terrain as it would on an ordinary road corridor.

“You want me to pass through a terrain that you have over 100 metres of pits deep, and I have no defined sharp sand to 300 metres, and you expect the cost of one kilometre to be the same cost with a road passing through normal terrain?” he asked.

According to the minister, the Federal Government subsequently redesigned the route to avoid the difficult terrain and reduce the construction challenges.

“We had to take a very serious engineering decision by making a detour, redesigning it to avoid such route. We are doing filling of over 10 metres, which is 30 feet plus, with sharp sand, and filling is almost concluded,” he said.

67-Kilometre Section Affected By Diversion

The diversion affects Sections 4A and 4B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, covering a combined distance of 67 kilometres.

The stretch comprises approximately 27 kilometres in Ogun State and 40 kilometres in Ondo State, terminating around the Ondo-Edo axis.

Umahi also disclosed that President Tinubu had directed that the continuation of the coastal highway from Ondo into Edo State should follow the existing East-West Road rather than an entirely new alignment.

He described the directive as a major development, explaining that parts of the existing road were vulnerable to flooding because they had not been designed to adequately accommodate changing climate conditions and rising flood risks.

The minister cited flooding around Ahoada approximately two weeks earlier, arguing that raising vulnerable sections of the road would be necessary to protect the infrastructure against current and anticipated flood levels.

“The permanent solution is the decision of Mr President to align the continuation through the East-West Road. We now have to raise the road in many locations by two metres to be above present and expected flood levels,” he said.

He put the Ondo-Edo corridor at 104 kilometres, including the 45-kilometre Benin Bypass.

According to Umahi, the bypass would enable motorists to avoid Benin City's urban centre, potentially reducing traffic congestion and improving movement across the region.

“That is the only solution whereby you don’t have to pass through the urban centre of Benin City. This decision is going to boost the economy,” he said.

The minister commended the governors of Edo and Delta states for supporting the Federal Government's road infrastructure projects.

Lagos Section Ready For Commissioning

Providing an update on other sections of the coastal highway, Umahi said Section 1, covering 47.47 kilometres from Victoria Island in Lagos, had been completed and was ready for commissioning.

He added that the dual pavement on Section 2, which spans 55 kilometres and terminates at the Lagos-Ogun boundary, was expected to be completed the following month.

The minister explained that the construction of flyovers, overpasses and underpasses along Section 2 had required extensive redesign, particularly around the Dangote Refinery and Lekki Deep Seaport.

He said engineers had designed an 86-metre-span bridge with 43-metre counterforts to accommodate refinery trucks and resolve traffic conflicts involving the deep-seaport railway, the Dangote tax-credit road and the 25-kilometre Seventh Axial Road connecting Epe to the Sagamu Expressway.

“We have redesigned a very beautiful flyover to resolve that conflict,” Umahi said.

At the Calabar end of the project, the minister disclosed that Sections 3A and 3B, covering 65 kilometres, had achieved more than 30 per cent completion.

He further confirmed that construction was ongoing on Section 5, an 82-kilometre dual carriageway in Akwa Ibom State, alongside an 88-kilometre link from Calabar to Ebidi Beach intended to connect with the Trans-Saharan route.

129-Kilometre Niger Delta Road Project Expected To Begin In November

Umahi also provided updates on other major road projects across the Niger Delta, including the proposed 129-kilometre dual carriageway linking the Edo-Delta boundary to the Delta-Bayelsa boundary.

He said route surveys and procurement activities were ongoing, with construction expected to commence in November.

The minister also reported ongoing work on the 15-kilometre Eleme Junction-to-Onne road section and the 9.7-kilometre Eket Bypass.

On the road connecting Akwa Ibom State to Calabar through Odukpani, Umahi said Hitech and Sammya Tech had been mobilised to undertake emergency palliative works and the full reconstruction of the 82-kilometre dualised stretch.

He explained that the contract previously awarded to CCECC had been reduced in scope because of funding constraints.

The projects form part of the Federal Government's broader infrastructure programme aimed at improving connectivity, reducing travel time and supporting economic activities across the South-South region.

Umahi Calls For Recognition Of Tinubu's Infrastructure Projects

The minister urged residents of the Niger Delta to recognise the Federal Government's investments in road infrastructure across the region.

“That is the story about the first legacy project of Mr President, and the people of the Niger Delta need to commend the President very, very highly,” he said.

However, the diversion of the coastal highway through Ondo State is likely to remain a subject of public scrutiny, particularly regarding the technical justification for the revised alignment, its overall cost implications and the communities that stand to benefit from the changes.

While Umahi insists that the decision was necessary to avoid difficult terrain and protect public funds, the details of the original and revised alignments, including their comparative costs and projected economic benefits, remain important to public assessment of the project.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the flagship infrastructure projects of the Tinubu administration, intended to improve transportation and connectivity along Nigeria's southern coastline.