Umahi: Tinubu Directed Rerouting Of Coastal Highway To Protect Submarine Telecommunications Cables

In a directive aimed at preserving critical infrastructure, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu instructed the Ministry of Works to reroute the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to avoid subsea telecommunications cables and essential services near the coastline. The order was disclosed by Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, following a question and answer segment during a stakeholder engagement meeting held at Eko Hotel, Lagos, on Sunday.

A concerned resident raised issues regarding a specific stretch of the project known as “chainage 16 to 18.” The resident explained that the coastal road diversion in this section had affected an estate that is home to Nigerians in diaspora and local cooperatives.

“Why I’m here is because of chainage 16 to 18,” the woman stated. “I have been talking about it. The issue in chainage 16 is that the coastal road was diverted into our estate, which belongs to several Nigerians in diaspora, several cooperatives in Nigeria,” she added.

Umahi acknowledged the concerns, explaining that the diversion was necessary to avoid critical infrastructure like subsea telecommunications cables and other essential installations. He referenced specific areas, such as the MTN cable line and a nearby power station, where the highway would cross. For instance, at kilometer 19, near an MTN cable and close to a power station, the Ministry has opted to build a flyover to cross above the cable line rather than risk disruption by working directly on top of it. “We’re going to do a flyover to go over the road there, because of their cable,” he said.

He noted that the initial plan was to keep the road along the coast, but that was adjusted following directives from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “The issue is that we diverted the coastal road into a place that was not gazetted, so to say,” Umahi admitted.

The minister added, “It is cheaper and better for us to have gone within the coastline. It’s cheaper for us, it’s better for us. It is a coastal road. But the president directed, because these two people (stakeholders) went to send a petition, and he called me and said, ‘do not touch the cables from the ocean.’ We have also avoided the MTN cable line.”

Originally, the highway’s design prioritised a coastal route, which would have been more cost-effective. However, following complaints from stakeholders, including companies with essential underground installations, President Tinubu mandated a diversion to safeguard these assets. The adjustments affected specific areas such as chainage 16 to 18, where the road intersects with an estate home to Nigerians in diaspora and local cooperatives.

The ministry’s decision to follow the directive meant significant modifications to the initial highway layout. While the project falls within the federal government’s right of way, which extends 250 meters from the shoreline per Supreme Court ruling, Umahi acknowledged the importance of respecting the president’s directive to avoid these sensitive areas, noting that it is a priority to ensure the project moves forward while respecting essential national infrastructure.

Despite the additional costs associated with the highway’s diversion, President Tinubu’s stance reflects a broader commitment to safeguard existing infrastructure and honor stakeholder concerns.

The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of Nigeria’s largest infrastructure projects, designed to enhance connectivity and boost economic growth along the nation’s coastline. As construction continues, the Ministry of Works has committed to ongoing transparency and collaboration with impacted communities, ensuring that both infrastructure goals and community interests remain aligned.

Melissa Enoch

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