Over 70 Civil Society Organisations have warned that routing the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway through Stubbs Creel Forest Reserve could trigger significant long term economic losses, undermine investor confidence and weaken climate resilience in the Niger Delta.

Speaking on behalf of the over 70 organisations at a press briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, Kelechukwu Okezie, Executive Director, Neighbourhood Watch Foundation and Tijah Bolton -Akpan, Executive Director, Policy Alert said the proposed alignment threatens one of Nigeria’s most valuable ecological assets and places avoidable risk on a flagship federal infrastructure project.

According to the Duo, “Stubb’s Creek Forest Reserve is a legally gazetted reserve established under Forest Reserve Order No. 45 of 1930. Located in AKWA IBOM STATE, it is a major mangrove freshwater ecosystem that supports fisheries, flood control, shoreline protection and thousands of livelihoods.”

The coalition said pushing a major highway through the reserve would result in irreversible deforestation, biodiversity loss and disruption of hydrological systems. These impacts, they warned, translate into long term economic costs that far outweigh short term construction gains.

According to the groups, “the forest functions as natural infrastructure. It reduces flooding, protects coastal communities and sustains local economies dependent on fishing, non timber forest products and eco services.

“Destroying it would increase future public spending on flood control, erosion management and disaster recovery.

They also raised concern over statements by the Akwa Ibom State Government indicating willingness to de- reserve parts of the forest to accommodate the project. Civil society groups described de reservation as a high risk policy choice that global evidence shows often leads to rapid and irreversible environmental and economic losses.”

The coalition noted that alternative alignments are feasible. Sections of the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway have already been realigned elsewhere to avoid sensitive areas. This, they said, weakens arguments that routing through Stubb’s Creek is unavoidable.

Business risks were also highlighted. An abandoned 2017 super highway project and ongoing industrial developments near the reserve have already opened the area to illegal logging and land degradation.

The CSOs warned that adding another major project could create cumulative damage, further devaluing the ecosystem and exposing government and contractors to litigation, delays and reputational risk.

They questioned the timing of approvals, noting that environmental and social impact assessments commenced in January 2026, after public announcements on the highway alignment.

Advancing construction before completing a comprehensive ESIA, they said, undermines due process under the ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ACT 1992 and Nigeria’s constitutional duty to protect the environment.

The groups also framed the issue as an economic governance challenge. They argued that lawful control of land under the LAND USE ACT does not replace the need for social licence, community consent and climate risk management. Ignoring these factors, they said, increases conflict risk and threatens the long term viability of infrastructure investments.

Climate finance opportunities were another concern. Speakers cited experiences in CROSS RIVER STATE where partially cleared but abandoned road projects led to massive forest loss, undercutting the state’s potential earnings from carbon markets and conservation financing.

The organisations warned that Nigeria’s commitments on climate change and biodiversity could be undermined if critical mangrove systems are sacrificed for short term infrastructure decisions.

They described Stubb’s Creek as one of the Niger Delta’s strongest natural defences against sea level rise, coastal erosion and flooding.

The coalition called on David Umahi Minister Works and the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately reroute the highway away from Stubb’s Creek Forest Reserve and publicly disclose alternative alignments that avoid protected areas.

They also urged Balarabe Abbas Lawal, Minister Environment to mandate and release a cumulative ESIA covering all existing and proposed projects affecting the reserve, and to halt land clearing where safeguards are absent.

They also called on the Akwa Ibom State Government to affirm the protected status of Stubb’s Creek, refuse right of way approvals within the reserve and engage the Federal Government and host communities on an environmentally responsible alignment.

The coalition said protecting Stubb’s Creek is not anti development. Rather, it is an investment in climate resilience, economic stability and intergenerational equity.

They warned that failure to act now would mortgage future growth in the Niger Delta and expose Nigeria to higher environmental, social and fiscal costs over time. (Weekend Trust)