The Nigerian Government has opted to alter the path of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to steer clear of submarine cables along the shoreline, as these cables are vital for national security.
Minister of Works David Umahi announced this change at the 3rd Stakeholders Meeting in Lagos, stating that the highway would be rerouted away from the Okun-Ajah community in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos and reconnect at kilometre 25.
Telecommunication companies had previously requested the government to map and relocate submarine cables, including SAT-3, MainOne, Glo 1, WACS, and ACE, which have landing stations in Lagos and could be damaged if not rerouted before construction.
Umahi mentioned that to address issues with the MTN 2Africa cables and the Okun Ajah community, the route would be completely diverted from the old alignment and reconnected at kilometre 25, adhering to the gazetted alignment but realigning to avoid the cables.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) will not be disclosed at this time, as per Section 15 (b) of the Freedom of Information Act.
The Lagos-Calabar coastal road project, which started in March 2024 by Hitech Construction Company Ltd, is economically promising but has faced controversy over its high cost. Concerns about the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) persist, although preliminary approval has been granted, allowing the project to commence.
The Federal Ministry of Environment has confirmed this preliminary approval, addressing ESIA concerns as noted by Umahi during the meeting.
