PANDEF flays Lagos-Calabar highway diversion – Daily Trust

The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has rejected the federal authorities’s determination to divert the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway from its authentic coastal alignment to the prevailing East-West Road by way of Ondo and Edo states.
The group, nevertheless, demanded a return to the unique coastal alignment.
Addressing journalists in Benin on Tuesday, PANDEF National Youth Leader, DonBen Donyegha, described the federal authorities determination as a betrayal of the challenge’s objective and the coastal oil-bearing communities whose assets contribute considerably to Nigeria’s financial system.
The federal authorities had attributed the diversion to troublesome terrain, deep pits and development prices in components of Ogun and Ondo states.
He, nevertheless, argued that the choice would exclude a number of communities initially anticipated to learn from the coastal highway.
He mentioned the challenge was conceived to attach Lagos by way of the littoral states and Niger Delta communities to Calabar, offering improved connectivity for communities which have endured a long time of environmental air pollution, gasoline flaring and underdevelopment arising from oil exploration.
According to him, the engineering challenges shouldn’t be used as an excuse to disclaim the area crucial infrastructure.
Donyegha warned that diverting the route would deepen the sensation of exclusion amongst Niger Delta communities.
He referred to as for clear consultations with host communities, state governments and regional stakeholders, in addition to public affirmation that each one littoral oil-bearing communities initially meant to learn from the challenge would nonetheless be served by an applicable coastal route.