The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has formally opposed the federal government’s choice to reroute the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway away from its initial coastal path and onto the existing East-West Road passing through Ondo and Edo states, insisting the original alignment be restored. Speaking to journalists in Benin on Tuesday, PANDEF National Youth Leader DonBen Donyegha characterized the shift as a betrayal of the project’s core objectives and the oil-producing coastal communities whose resources heavily drive the national economy. Although the federal government cited difficult terrain, deep pits, and high construction costs in parts of Ogun and Ondo states as the reasons for the change, Donyegha countered that the decision unfairly marginalizes several communities that were originally slated to benefit from the development.
What You Should Know
The federal government has altered the path of the major Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, moving it from the coast onto the existing East-West Road through Ondo and Edo states due to difficult terrain and construction expenses. However, regional groups like PANDEF are pushing back, arguing this change leaves out the oil-producing communities that originally expected to benefit from improved infrastructure.
- Positive Impact: Rerouting could potentially bypass difficult engineering hurdles and speed up aspects of construction using existing roadways.
- Potential Concerns: The shift risks deepening feelings of neglect and economic exclusion among Niger Delta communities that have long suffered from environmental degradation due to oil exploration.
