Adegboruwa urges Tinubu to intervene over diversion of coastal highway
By Julius Alabi, Akure
Legal luminary and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the reported realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, warning that the proposed route changes could deprive coastal communities in Ondo and Delta states of the economic benefits of the project.
Adegboruwa, in an open letter dated October 12, 2026, called on the President to order an independent technical review of the reported changes and ensure that the original objectives of the highway as a coastal economic corridor were not undermined by its implementation.
He argued that the project, conceived as a transformative infrastructure initiative to connect communities and economic centres along Nigeria’s Atlantic coastline, should not be executed in a manner that leaves some of the intended beneficiaries outside its direct development impact.
The senior lawyer noted that the Federal Government had, at the official flag-off of the project in May 2024, described the highway as a 700-kilometre corridor designed to traverse coastal states and unlock their economic potential.
He, however, expressed concern that moving sections of the highway inland and away from coastal settlements could weaken the development prospects of communities whose livelihoods depend on fishing, maritime activities, tourism and other coastal resources.
According to him, the people of Ilaje and other coastal communities in Ondo State, as well as their counterparts in Delta State, stand to lose opportunities for improved transportation, commercial activities and investment if the reported realignment is implemented without adequate consideration of their interests.
“The concern is not merely about where a road passes. It is about whether the promise of national infrastructure will translate into tangible development for the people whose geographical position makes them natural stakeholders in a coastal highway project,” he said.
Adegboruwa described the reported realignment as a matter requiring urgent presidential attention, arguing that the Federal Government must demonstrate that any changes to the route are justified by transparent technical assessments and serve the broader public interest.
While acknowledging that the government had cited difficult terrain, weak subsoil conditions, construction costs and flood resilience as considerations in reviewing parts of the alignment, he maintained that such challenges should lead to a careful assessment of alternatives rather than the automatic loss of coastal access.
He argued that engineering considerations, though important, should be weighed against the long-term economic and social consequences for affected communities, adding that the coastlines of Ondo and Delta states deserved the same consideration as other coastal areas.
The legal practitioner said the two states had considerable potential to benefit from improved coastal transportation, fisheries, agricultural distribution, tourism, maritime services and related industries.
He warned that a route that bypasses important coastal settlements could limit their ability to attract private investment, establish transport-linked businesses and participate in the economic opportunities expected from the highway.
Adegboruwa consequently urged the Federal Government to commission a comparative assessment of the original coastal route and the proposed revised alignment, taking into account construction and maintenance costs, journey times, environmental implications, employment opportunities and the distribution of economic benefits among affected states.
He also called for comprehensive environmental and social impact assessments, warning that route decisions must account for coastal erosion, flooding, wetlands, mangrove ecosystems, fisheries, drainage systems and the effects of climate change.
The senior advocate stressed the need for the findings of relevant technical and environmental studies to be made available to the public, while affected communities should be consulted before major changes to the route are finalised.
On regional development, he cautioned that a major national infrastructure project should promote balanced growth and strengthen the participation of communities within its intended corridor.
He said excluding coastal settlements in Ondo and Delta from the direct benefits of a project presented as a coastal development corridor could raise legitimate concerns about the equitable distribution of public infrastructure and economic opportunities.
In his recommendations, Adegboruwa asked Tinubu to direct the Federal Ministry of Works to publish a clear explanation of the approved alignment, the reasons for the reported changes and the coastal communities that would be served or bypassed.
He also urged the President to consider restoring or retaining a viable coastal route through parts of Ondo and Delta wherever technically, environmentally and economically feasible.
Other recommendations included a stakeholder meeting involving the Federal Government, the governments of Ondo and Delta states, traditional rulers, community representatives, engineers, environmental experts and investors.
He further called for complementary access roads and supporting economic infrastructure for communities that might not be directly served by the final route, to prevent them from being isolated from the opportunities generated by the project.
According to him, the benefits of the highway should extend beyond the construction of the road to include employment, local enterprise development, improved transport connectivity and supporting infrastructure for affected settlements.
Adegboruwa maintained that the success of the project should not be measured solely by the speed of construction or kilometres completed, but also by its contribution to national integration, regional development, environmental sustainability and the welfare of communities along its corridor.
“I am not asking the Federal Government to disregard legitimate engineering considerations. I am asking that those considerations be weighed transparently against the original objectives of the project and the rights and development aspirations of the affected communities,” he said.
He appealed to Tinubu to ensure that the coastal interests of Ondo and Delta states received a fair, evidence-based and transparent assessment before irreversible decisions were taken.
“A coastal highway should create opportunities for coastal communities, not leave them wondering whether the promise of development has passed them by,” he added.
