Umahi clarifies Lagos-Calabar highway ‘diversion’ remark

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has clarified that the federal government is not changing the alignment of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway but plans to construct a spur linking it to the East-West road to provide an alternative route for motorists.

Umahi explained that the proposed connection would improve access along the coastal corridor, while the highway would retain its planned route through Ondo and Edo states.

He made the clarification during an interview with Arise TV released on Friday, following his earlier remarks that President Bola Tinubu had directed the government to route the coastal highway through the existing East-West road from Ondo State into Edo State.

During his earlier explanation in October, Umahi said the directive was intended to prevent the construction of a new alignment along the corridor.

“Divert, do not do any new alignments. Pass the coastal highway through the existing East-West road,” the minister had quoted Tinubu as saying.

However, the minister said the use of the word divert did not accurately describe the government’s plan, insisting that the proposal involved building a connecting spur rather than changing the highway’s route.

“The alignment is intact, but anybody saying that we should remove Edo state, we are not removing Edo state,” he said.

“We are routing from Ondo to Edo state and then within the coastal line of Delta, you know, the Delta line of Bayelsa.

“No, the word ‘divert’, you know, if I use that, then it’s a slip of the tongue. It’s to also put a spur. That’s the correct language, you know. It is connecting, and even if you say ‘to align’, you can say a spur.”

Umahi said the additional connection would give motorists another route along the corridor and improve the road network.

“We are connecting it also to have a spur on East-West road and make it very beautiful. And don’t forget that it becomes an alternative route,” he said.

ALSO READ: 2027: Support Tinubu despite hardship in Nigeria, Suswam urges Nigerians

The minister also linked the proposed connection to the condition of the existing East-West road, noting that flooding had affected sections of the route, particularly around the Ughelli axis in Delta State.

He said some portions of the road had sunk below flood levels, making them susceptible to flooding and disrupting movement along the corridor.

According to Umahi, the flooding problems have been worsened by climate change, with some sections of the road cut off by floodwaters about two weeks before the interview.

To address the problem, he said the federal government planned to reconstruct the affected road sections using reinforced concrete pavements.