The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the federal government, through the Federal Ministry of Works, to review the proposed realignment and retain the originally conceptualised alignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway through the Ondo, Escravos–Ogheye–Ugborodo corridor.

In a resolution on a motion on the need to review the proposed realignment of the coastal highway and its implications for coastal communities, the House asked the Ministry of Works to establish a structured consultative forum comprising communities affected by the coastal highway to discuss the implications of the construction work.

Moving the motion, its sponsor, Thomas Ereyitomi (APC, Delta), described the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a strategic Federal Government infrastructure project intended to strengthen connectivity along Nigeria’s coastline, facilitate interstate commerce, promote economic integration, and unlock the development potential of coastal communities.

According to him, the Federal Government has identified difficult geotechnical and environmental conditions, including swampy terrain, weak subgrades, and challenging subsoil conditions, as reasons informing a proposed realignment of portions of the Highway.

He expressed concern that the proposed realignments may compromise the project’s original connectivity and economic-development objectives if they do not independently assess the comparative engineering requirements, environmental consequences, socioeconomic implications, and total lifecycle costs.

The Delta Lawmaker said the proposed realignment bypasses the riverine communities of Delta State, particularly the Ogheye–Orere–Ugborodo–Escravos corridor, which hosts the Chevron tank farm and Escravos Gas-to-Liquids (EGTL) Plant, and other coastal communities which host strategic oil and gas infrastructure and other vital domestic flow stations that contribute significantly to Nigeria’s crude oil exports, foreign exchange earnings, energy supply, and national economic development.

He believes that retaining the original coastal alignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway would strengthen access to these critical economic hubs, improve the movement of personnel, equipment, and commercial goods, support the development of connecting roads and related infrastructure, and broaden the highway’s potential economic benefits, thereby reinforcing the case for preserving its coastal character.

According to him, any assessment of alternative alignments should consider the full costs of construction, including additional road distance, bridges, ground improvement, environmental mitigation, compensation, flood resilience, and long-term maintenance, while recognising that specialised engineering solutions, including soil stabilisation, geosynthetics, piled foundations, reinforced embankments, and elevated viaducts, may offer potential options for addressing difficult terrain, subject to site-specific technical and environmental assessments.

He said the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway must retain its intended coastal connectivity and developmental purpose, while a transparent, evidence-based, and independently reviewed process must adequately address engineering feasibility, environmental sustainability, financial prudence, value for money, and the interests of affected coastal communities. (The Nation)