Nigeria: Lagos-Calabar Highway - We Stand With Tinubu, but Don't Bypass Ondo Coast - Afenifere

Chief Sola Ebiseni, Secretary-General of Afenifere, the premier Yoruba socio-political organization, has voiced support for President Bola Tinubu's Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project. However, Ebiseni cautioned against the project bypassing the coastline of Ondo State. He praised the Minister of Works, David Umahi, for recently visiting the Ilaje area of Ondo State, describing it as a commendable demonstration of democracy.

Ebiseni emphasized that coastal Yoruba communities are highly supportive of the project, which he believes could drastically reduce travel time between Lagos and Ondo State. Despite assurances from the government, Ebiseni expressed concern over the current construction alignment of the highway, which he claims bypasses Ondo State's coastline, extending approximately 100 kilometers and linking the state with the Itsekiri region of Delta State.

He disagreed with the official explanation that soil challenges are preventing the project's progress in Ondo State and insisted that these issues can be overcome using appropriate engineering solutions. Afenifere remains committed to the project, urging the federal government to consider the interests of coastal Ondo communities.