Community groups and other stakeholders at the third stakeholders’ meeting of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway to resolve controversial issues surrounding the project have expressed strong concerns over the negative impact it would cause them should the government follow the new alignment in the construction of the highway.

The meeting allowed the aggrieved participants to bare their minds on the negative impact of the project on their communities and gave reasons why the project’s new alignment should not be followed.Specifically, representatives of telecommunications companies, representatives of Okun Ajah community and various other stakeholders were at the meeting to express their concerns.

Responding to their complaints, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, explained that the original alignment would lead to the demolition of 750 houses, compared to 490 houses under the new alignment.

Okun Ajah community voiced strong concerns about the potential demolition of their properties, including ancestral homes, pointing out that the new alignment threatened to uproot the community, sparking widespread discontent. In response, Umahi announced the government’s decision to revert to the original alignment, bypassing the new route.

However, before announcing the decision, Umahi said those who wanted new alignment should indicate by raising up their hands and nobody responded.

But the moment he asked those who wanted old alignment to indicate by raising their hands, the entire hall shouted “we want old alignment”.

Consequently, the minister said in response: “Ladies and gentlemen, we have our proposal here and we have the old alignment, the gazetted alignment. To the glory of God, to solve MTN, 2Africa and Okun Ajah community’s complaints, we are diverting completely from the new alignment and we are rejoining back to our new alignment at kilometre 25. Congratulations.”

The decision was met with relief and applause from Okun Ajah community which had previously expressed concerns over the potential demolition of their properties, including ancestral homes.
The revised alignment, apart from preserving the community’s heritage, also avoids disrupting essential infrastructure, especially submarine communication cables.Stakeholders present hailed this decision as an indication of a responsive and adaptive approach by the government to their concerns.

The concerns raised by telecommunications companies significantly influenced the government’s decision which Umahi said was made possible by President Tinubu.

A presentation by the Group CEO of Machine and Equipment Consulting of Africa, Illiyasu Gashinbaki, highlighted the potential risks to crucial telecom infrastructure.

The 2Africa submarine cable, a vital connection that links 33 countries and serves approximately three billion people, was at significant risk.This cable, along with the West African Cable Systems, WACS, and a 50-megawatt power plant, are all located at Mopo, directly impacted by the proposed new alignment.

“We have three critical infrastructures located on one spot. The 2Africa submarine cable cuts across 33 countries, connecting about three billion people. That cable landed at Mopo where the West African Cable Systems, WACS, had already been located about 17 years ago. We also have a mega IPP to provide power to these cables.

“The corridor is passing right on the submarine cable and the other side is on the IPP. You cannot have the submarine cables without power; they will not function. The submarine cable is a critical national security infrastructure. If it is affected, everybody will be affected.”

He referenced recent subsea cable disruptions that caused significant internet outages across several African countries, pointing out also the potential national security risks.

“Two months ago, there was a challenge as far as Cote d’Ivoire but a significant part of Africa was blanked out. Our appeal today is in view of the fact that this is not just a private project, it’s a national project, it’s the internet gateway to the nation and it is linked to national security.