Coastal communities in Ondo State’s Ilaje Local Government Area have appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the alleged diversion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from the proposed Ilaje coastal corridor.
The communities, operating under the banner of Ilaje Omuro Community Connect (IOCC), demanded an independent engineering assessment, transparent review of the route selection process and a full audit of the project’s financial implications.
In a statement signed by its legal representative, Babatunde Omobone, the group argued that the reported route alteration raises concerns about equity, economic inclusion and environmental justice.
The organisation urged the Federal Ministry of Works to publish technical reports, including feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments and geotechnical analyses used in determining the project alignment.
IOCC questioned why coastal communities in Lagos and Ogun States were reportedly included in the highway route while Ilaje communities appeared to have been excluded.
The group pointed to previous road projects executed in the area by OSOPADEC and the Niger Delta Development Commission as evidence that infrastructure development within the coastal terrain is feasible.
It also called on the National Assembly to exercise oversight and urged anti-corruption agencies, including the EFCC, to investigate any credible allegations of financial misconduct associated with the route decision.
According to the group, affected communities continue to face challenges such as coastal erosion, sea incursion and poor transportation infrastructure, making inclusion in the project critical for economic development.
IOCC insisted that communities likely to be affected by the final route alignment should be consulted before decisions are finalised.
