Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has defended the feasibility of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway amid an ongoing debate over its route, engineering challenges and potential benefits to communities in the Niger Delta.
The controversy has drawn attention to the position of Works Minister David Umahi, who has explained that difficult terrain has necessitated engineering adjustments to some sections of the project.
Diri has maintained that road construction across Bayelsa’s swampy landscape is possible, pointing to existing roads and bridges in the state as evidence that challenging terrain should not prevent infrastructure development.
Diri Points to Bayelsa Roads and Bridges
In a statement issued through his Chief Press Secretary, Daniel Alabrah, Diri rejected arguments that the Niger Delta’s wetlands make the proposed highway unbuildable.
The governor cited the Nembe-Brass Road, the Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge Road and the Yenagoa-Oporoma Road as examples of infrastructure projects crossing difficult terrain.
He also highlighted the 630-metre bridge across the River Nun at Angiama in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area.
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According to Diri, these projects demonstrate that engineering solutions can make road construction possible in areas characterised by swamps, forests and waterways.
He described the coastal highway as an important project for improving transportation and creating economic opportunities for communities that have long faced connectivity challenges.
Umahi Explains Engineering Challenges
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has acknowledged that some sections of the coastal highway present difficult engineering conditions.
Umahi previously explained that the original alignment in parts of Ondo State required adjustments because of difficult terrain and subsoil conditions.
He has also discussed plans to reconstruct about 400 kilometres of the East-West Road, describing the work as an additional project rather than a replacement for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Following public criticism over comments about the route, Umahi maintained that the planned 750-kilometre coastal highway remained intact.
The distinction between the coastal highway and the additional East-West Road reconstruction has become central to the public debate.
Donald Duke Questions Feasibility and Cost
Former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke has questioned the practicality of building the highway through the Niger Delta, citing the region’s swampy terrain and the potential engineering costs.
Duke has also argued that the government should examine the project's affordability and whether existing roads should receive greater attention.
Diri countered those concerns by pointing to infrastructure already constructed in Bayelsa and arguing that the region’s terrain should not be treated as an insurmountable obstacle.
The disagreement has widened the discussion beyond engineering feasibility to include funding priorities, project costs and the long-term benefits for coastal communities.
Questions Remain Over the Highway’s Route
The Federal Government says work is continuing on sections of the coastal highway, while surveys and designs are being undertaken for other stretches through the Niger Delta.
However, questions remain about the alignment of certain sections, the communities that will benefit directly and the cost of addressing difficult terrain.
For residents of the coastal states, the central concern is whether the project will deliver reliable transport links and economic opportunities without leaving communities along the proposed corridor behind.
As the debate continues, detailed information about the final route, engineering plans and project financing will be important to public understanding of the highway’s progress.