The Lagos-Calabar coastal highway will retain its original route due to concerns about submarine cables, which could be damaged and cause internet connectivity disruptions during construction.
This was disclosed on Thursday, May 23, 2024, at the 3rd stakeholders’ meeting of the coastal highway project in Lagos.
According to telecom operators, several submarine cables like SAT-3, MainOne, Glo 1, WACS, and ACE, which originate from Europe and cover thousands of kilometers with landing stations in Lagos, are likely to be damaged if they are not re-routed before the commencement of construction work on the proposed Lagos-Calabar coastal road.
David Umahi announced that the federal government would abandon the proposed new route of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway from kilometers 16 to 25 and revert to the original gazetted alignment. This decision came after a two-hour session that included presentations and a Q&A segment with representatives of telecommunications companies, residents of the Okun Ajah community, and other stakeholders.
Umahi highlighted that reverting to the old alignment would result in the demolition of 750 illegally built houses, whereas the new alignment would lead to the demolition of 490 houses. It was a tough decision, but the concerns raised by stakeholders, particularly telecommunications companies, played a significant role.
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The Group CEO of Machine and Equipment Consulting of Africa emphasized the critical nature of the telecommunications infrastructure at risk. The 2Africa submarine cable, West African Cable Systems (WACS), and a 50-megawatt power plant supporting these cables are located at Mopo. Disrupting this infrastructure would have national security implications and could affect internet connectivity across Africa, as seen in recent subsea cable disruptions.
This decision was met with applause and relief from the Okun Ajah residents, who were concerned about the potential demolition of their properties and ancestral homes. Umahi clarified that this decision was due to President Bola Tinubu’s intervention and not merely because of community pushback. The stakeholders praised the government for being responsive and adaptive to their concerns. President Tinubu is expected to flag off the coastal road project in Lagos on Sunday.
