By George Kelly
Over 1,000 coastal communities remain cut off from Nigeria’s economic heartland, costing the nation an estimated N500 billion annually in untapped potential.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway could change that, but will decades of delays give way to progress?
This ambitious project, a potential lifeline along our neglected coast, faces a complex journey from promise to pavement.
Coastal roads are the arteries of nations with extensive shorelines like Nigeria. But in the Niger Delta, vast stretches remain inaccessible due to extreme terrain.
For decades, the East-West Road aimed to offer relief, yet it bypasses the largely uninhabited yet resource-rich southern region. For people living in towns like Ilaje, Oporoza, Bonny, and countless others across nine states, simple journeys become perilous ordeals, limiting education, healthcare, and economic opportunity.
Conversations about a coastal highway date back decades. The Niger Delta Development Commission launched design plans in 2008, and the Ministry of Niger Delta took over in 2010, promising to deliver this critical infrastructure despite the immense price tag. Yet bureaucratic hurdles, changing priorities, and perhaps a lack of political will saw the project gather dust.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has now revived the project, signaling a commitment to transform the lives of those long forgotten. The highway’s impact would be vast: reduced transport times, lower trade costs, greater industrial access to the coast, and a boost to the tourism potential of untouched beaches.
For residents of coastal communities, this means potentially life-changing improvements in access to healthcare, education, and broader economic participation. Additionally, improved access could enhance security efforts in a region long plagued by instability.
Spotlight: A Voice from the Coast
Sarah, a fish trader from Okerenkoko, knows the risks of isolation all too well. “Each trip to sell my catch in Warri means a treacherous boat journey. Storms, faulty engines… we’ve lost friends and neighbors to the sea,” she says, her voice heavy. Sarah dreams of sending her children to a good school in the city, but the arduous travel makes it impossible. “A safe, reliable road? That would change everything. More trade, my children getting an education, maybe even visitors coming to see our beautiful beaches,” she smiles, a flicker of hope rekindled. “This highway isn’t just about convenience; it’s about creating a future for our communities.”
Funding and navigating the complex environmental impact remain major challenges. Yet, the potential benefits far outweigh the cost. This project isn’t just about a road; it’s about demonstrating to the Niger Delta – the source of much of Nigeria’s wealth – that their development truly matters.
It’s time for Nigerians across the country to rally behind the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway. This is a chance to rewrite the narrative of neglect, empower a region bursting with untapped potential, and demonstrate that the lives and livelihoods of coastal Nigerians truly matter. Let’s demand action and ensure this lifeline is finally built, paving the way for a more integrated and prosperous Nigeria.
- Kerley George, President of the Niger Delta Enterprise Initiative (NDEI), writes from Port Harcourt
