By BONIFACE AKARAH

Eminent lawyer and activist Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, has urged President Bola Tinubu to order an independent review of the reported realignment of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, warning that changes to the route could deprive coastal communities in Ondo and Delta states of expected economic benefits.

In a statement dated October 12, 2026, the activist lawyer appealed to Tinubu to intervene before irreversible decisions are made, insisting that the highway’s original coastal development objectives should not be lost during implementation.

The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway was presented at its official flag-off in May 2024 as a 700-kilometre corridor intended to connect coastal states and unlock their economic potential, according to Adegboruwa’s statement.

He argued that moving sections of the road inland could limit access to emerging commercial routes for communities whose livelihoods depend on fishing, maritime activities, tourism and other coastal industries.

“For the people of Ilaje and other coastal communities in Ondo State, as well as coastal communities in Delta State, the concern is not merely about where a road passes,” Adegboruwa stated. “It is about whether the promise of national infrastructure will translate into tangible development for the people whose geographical position makes them natural stakeholders in a coastal highway project.”

The lawyer acknowledged that the Federal Government had cited difficult terrain, weak subsoil conditions, construction costs and flood resilience as factors in reviewing parts of the route. However, he maintained that such considerations should be weighed against the project’s broader economic and social objectives.

“Nevertheless, engineering challenges should prompt a careful evaluation of alternatives rather than the automatic loss of coastal access and development opportunities,” he said.

Adegboruwa called for a comparative assessment of the original and revised routes, covering construction and maintenance costs, journey times, environmental effects, employment opportunities and the distribution of economic benefits among affected states.

He also urged the Federal Ministry of Works to publish the approved alignment and identify the coastal communities that would be served directly or bypassed by the highway.

The proposed review, he said, should determine whether alternative engineering solutions could preserve access to coastal settlements without compromising safety, environmental protection or value for public money.

On environmental concerns, the SAN said route decisions should account for coastal erosion, flooding, wetlands, mangrove ecosystems, fisheries and climate change. He called for the publication of relevant technical and environmental assessments and consultations with affected communities before major changes are finalised.

The lawyer further requested a stakeholder meeting involving the Federal Government, Ondo and Delta state governments, traditional rulers, community representatives, engineers, environmental experts and investors.

Where direct coastal access proves technically or economically unfeasible, he proposed complementary access roads and supporting infrastructure to prevent affected communities from being isolated from the opportunities created by the project.

“A coastal highway should create opportunities for coastal communities, not leave them wondering whether the promise of development has passed them by,” Adegboruwa said.

He stressed that his appeal was not for engineering considerations to be ignored, but for them to be assessed transparently alongside the highway’s original objectives and the development aspirations of the communities along the corridor.

The statement called on Tinubu to ensure that the interests of Ondo and Delta coastal communities receive a fair, evidence-based assessment as the project progresses.