By Chancel Bomadi Sunday

BOMADI—Niger Delta ex-agitator and former Delta State House of Assembly candidate under the All Progressives Congress, APC, Chief Kingsley Muturu, has differed with the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, in his proposed decision to reroute the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to link with the existing East-West Road.

The former agitator, speaking with journalists over the weekend, remarked that the proposed decision had stirred considerable tension in the region. He emphasized that the federal government should provide clear and definitive reasons for the decision to reroute the highway, which already had established survey plans and engineering designs.

Muturu, a Peace Ambassador, insisted that the people of the Niger Delta require transparent information about the proposed changes and the technical evaluations that support this decision.

“The federal government has demonstrated its capacity to construct major bridges and transport infrastructure across lagoons, rivers and other challenging waterways beyond the Niger Delta, which generates the nation’s wealth.

“Why should the same terrain, which can be assessed and engineered for petroleum operations, automatically become an insurmountable obstacle to road construction?

“This is a call for transparency and responsible leadership regarding the proposed re-routing of the Lagos-Calabar Highway project. The challenging terrain of the Niger Delta must not be used as an excuse to deprive the region of the infrastructure and development it rightfully deserves.

“The oil industry has, for decades, developed the technical capacity to explore, drill, install pipelines and transport crude oil through challenging terrains. I urge the people of the Niger Delta, including political leaders, traditional rulers and community leaders, to demand fair treatment and justice,” Muturu stated.

He swiftly pointed out that it is a well-known fact that oil exploration and road construction involve different engineering mechanisms, each with distinct technical requirements and environmental considerations.

“Our point is straightforward: if the terrain can be studied and suitable engineering solutions devised for oil exploration and transportation, then the feasibility of roads, bridges and other essential infrastructure should likewise be evaluated through thorough technical investigations. The Niger Delta deserves engineering solutions, not assumptions that its geography renders development impractical,” he added.

Muturu further emphasized that the public deserved clarity regarding the original alignment of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, the proposed adjustments, and the relationship between this highway and the existing East–West Road.

The ex-agitator stated that a project of such national significance should be steered by transparent decisions, credible technical evidence and meaningful engagement with the communities that may be impacted.

He urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Works to ensure that decisions regarding the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway are guided by sound engineering principles, economic responsibility, environmental protection and fairness to the affected communities.