COASTAL ROAD: ILAJE, ITSHEKIRI NATIONALITIES REJECT REROUTING OF PROJECT TO NON COASTAL COMMUNITIES
… Describe Works Minister David Umahi’s Excuse As “Blatant Falsehood”
The Ilaje Nationality of Ondo State and the Itsekiri Nationality of Delta State after Stakeholders meeting held in Lagos at Weekend have rejected the rerouting of the Coastal Road to non-coastal communities, saying this is contrary to the vision of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The two nationalities in a resolution passed at the end of their meeting on Saturday, September 19, 2026 in Lagos and signed by Barrister Austin Nonen Oboroegbeyi, Dr. Benson Enikuomehin, FCPA; Comrade Amaechi Omagbotse and Dr. Adeolu Austin Efotan, have vowed to work together in making sure the Coastal Road maintains its original route, passing through the Coastal Communities.
The Ilaje and Itsekiri Nations’ Stakeholders said the Minister of Works, David Umahi’s claim of high cost as being the reason why the road cannot go through their communities is a blatant falsehood.
They explained that , ” the Cost of construction of a Kilometre of Road along the Coastal Route, which includes the Ilaje Communities in Ondo State and the Itsekiri Communities in Delta State, is about ₦4 billion to ₦7.5 billion, whereas the Cost of rerouting the road through Umahi’s diversion and manipulation from the Coast to the hinterland area is a minimum of ₦7.5 billion to ₦12 billion”.
They also said that, “The distance from Olosunmeta to the Itsekiri Axis in Delta State is between 100 –110 Kilometres. On the other hand, Umahi’s new Route will take 170–190 kilometres, which will increase egregiously the length of the Road and the Cost.
“The new route is swampy, full of Bridges, and has very difficult terrain, as against the straight road from Olosunmeta through Araromi, Abe-Oroyo, Ogogoro, Ugbonla, Apata, Awoye, Ugbege, Oghoye, Orere, Agogboro, Ode-Ugborodo e.t.c through the entire Coastline of Delta State”.
The two Coastal Communities said they have also greed to set up a Tactical Committee consisting of their Representatives to among others, makes necessary contacts and appeal to the Federal Government to maintain the sanctity of the Coastal Road as envisioned by Mr. President; Sensitising, Conscientising, and Mobilising the Traditional Institutions, Youths, Women, Professionals, and other Stakeholders to bring their influence to bear in this regard.
They also said where possible, legal action would be embarked upon to ensure that justice, equity, and fairness prevail as well as drafting an all inclusive memorandum which will include Traditional Institutions, Religious Leaders, Market Women, Opinion Leaders and all Stakeholders in the Niger Delta region of Ilaje and Itsekiri Nations which shall be communicated to the appropriate authorities and institutions on why the Highway from Lagos to Calabar should remain Coastal along the corridors of Ondo and Delta State.
They also said they plan to set up an Implementation Committee to oversee the mobilisation and coordination of all the resolutions reached by the two ethnic nationalities.
