Coastal Highway: Okun Ajah Praises Tinubu, Umahi For Reversal To Original Route

AISHA ABUBAKAR 

The Okun-Ajah Community in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State has commended President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for reverting to the original gazetted route for the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project and saving over 2,000 of their homes from demolition.

They made their commendation in a letter to the minister, signed by the Baale of Okun-Aja, Chief Sikiru Okoniawon Olukasi and Secretary, Mr. Kamorudeen Balogun, titled ‘Letter of appreciation for the coastal road realignment’.

In May, the community had cried out to the federal and Lagos State governments to exclude its traditional ruler’s palace and 2,000 other homes from a revised project route, saying the properties were wrongly earmarked for demolition.

On May 24, the federal government reassured the Okun-Ajah community that it had heard their cry and that their properties would not be demolished.

Commending the minister in their letter dated July 5, the community said the government’s decision had brought them “immense relief”.

They said: “We the traditional ruler and representatives of the Okun-Ajah Community in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State write to express our heartfelt gratitude for your recent decision to reroute the coastal road project that would have led to the demolition of our traditional home.

“The willingness of the Federal Government to consider and act upon the concerns of our community is profoundly appreciated and it demonstrates the government’s commitment to preserving our cultural heritage.

“Your decision has brought immense relief and delight to the people of Okun-Ajah Community, as our traditional home holds significant cultural and historical value to us. It is a place where our traditions and customs are upheld, and it serves as a symbol of our identity and unity.

“By choosing to reroute the road to the swamp area of the community, you have not only safeguarded a crucial part of our heritage by saving thousands of our people from homelessness but also reinforced the trust and confidence we have in the Federal Government of Nigeria that has shown human emotions for her citizenry.

“Once again, we extend our sincerest thanks to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Honourable Ministry of Work, Senator David Umahi, for his understanding and decisive action.

“We look forward to continued collaboration with your Ministry to address any future concerns and to work towards the development and prosperity of our community and Nigeria at large.”

The 700-kilometre stretch of road infrastructure, which will span eight years to complete, will gulp N15 trillion.

The pilot phase of the construction has started at the Eko Atlantic City, and it will terminate at Lekki Deep Seaport, for which N1.06 trillion has already been released. According to Umahi, it is a highway of 10 lanes, which will cost N4 billion per kilometre, and would be the first of its kind in Africa.