FGN Halts Lagos-Calabar Highway Realignment to Protect Submarine Cables

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced its decision to halt the proposed realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a move driven by the presence of crucial submarine cables along the coastline.

Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed this development at the 3rd Stakeholders Meeting in Lagos. He confirmed that the previously planned diversion would not proceed, citing the potential risk to telecommunication infrastructure. Telecom companies had warned that the realignment could lead to significant network outages nationwide.

Furthermore, Umahi noted that the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the project would not be released at this time. He referenced Section 15(b) of the Freedom of Information Act, which allows the government to withhold information that involves third-party interests.

The decision to abandon the realignment also comes as a relief to the Okun-Ajah community, whose ancestral homes would have been threatened by the project. In a video posted by journalist Laila Johnson-Salami, community members expressed gratitude towards the Tinubu-led administration for reconsidering the route.

The government’s announcement follows earlier demolitions affecting private beachfront businesses, including LandMark. Officials are now exploring alternative routes to ensure the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project can continue without compromising critical infrastructure or displacing local communities.