The Ijaw Youth Council (IYC) Worldwide has referred to as on President Bola Tinubu to make sure that the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway follows its unique authorized route by Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states, warning that any diversion may undermine public confidence within the Federal Government throughout the South-South.
The Council made the decision on Thursday at a press convention held on the Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, following studies that the Federal Government was contemplating diverting a part of the freeway from Ondo State to the East-West Road, doubtlessly excluding Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states from the unique coastal alignment.
The IYC, led by its National President, Dr Doubra Okotete, mentioned the area wouldn’t settle for any change to the unique route, urging Tinubu to direct the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to stick to the design authorized by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Okotete described reported issues about the price of development and the tough terrain as unacceptable, arguing that state governments and growth companies had been already constructing roads and bridges throughout the creeks, swamps and mangrove forests of the Niger Delta.
He cited the continued Nembe-Brass Road mission in Bayelsa State, which it mentioned concerned 21 kilometres of highway and greater than 15 bridges throughout tough terrain, as proof that infrastructure may very well be delivered within the area.
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The National President additionally listed the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie Road, the Ekeremor-Agge Road and different tasks in Bayelsa as examples of ongoing efforts to attach communities separated by rivers and wetlands.
He mentioned comparable tasks had been being undertaken in Rivers and Delta states, in addition to by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), together with the Bonny Ring Road and the Port Harcourt-Okrika Road mission.
Okotete supplied to sponsor former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke on an all-expenses-paid go to to Bayelsa to examine the Nembe-Brass Road and different infrastructure tasks. It additionally supplied to fund his go to to the Trans-Kalabari Road mission in Rivers State and different NDDC tasks throughout the area.
The supply adopted feedback attributed to Duke questioning the feasibility and price of finishing the coastal freeway. The IYC mentioned it wished him to see the development challenges being addressed by state governments and growth companies within the Niger Delta.
He argued that the Federal Government shouldn’t abandon the unique coastal alignment on the grounds of value or terrain after the mission had undergone feasibility research and design and development had commenced on some sections.
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He maintained that the difficulty required political dedication and transparency, fairly than a change of route that might go away a number of South-South states exterior the mission.
Okotete additional warned that any diversion may have an effect on the Tinubu administration’s standing within the area forward of the 2027 basic elections.
He mentioned the choice would disappoint residents who anticipated the coastal freeway to enhance transport hyperlinks, assist financial exercise and join coastal communities to different elements of the nation.
He additionally referred to the defection of some South-South governors to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying folks within the area had supported the strikes partly due to expectations of federal infrastructure tasks and better authorities presence.
The IYC President urged Tinubu to exhibit that he represented the pursuits of all Nigerians by making certain that the freeway retained its unique route by the South-South.
He additionally referred to as on the Federal Government to launch the authorized designs and engineering drawings for all the 750-kilometre mission to the general public.
In addition, Okotete requested the federal government to direct the contractor to start work instantly on the Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo sections and be certain that development progressed alongside work on the Lagos-Ondo and Cross River-Akwa Ibom sections.
He mentioned a public launch of the authorized designs and the graduation of labor throughout the totally different sections would assist restore confidence and deal with issues a few attainable change within the mission’s scope.
He additionally warned that changing the coastal freeway with rehabilitation of the East-West Road would increase questions on whether or not the unique mission was supposed to profit the South-South states.
He mentioned it didn’t search battle with any area or ethnic group however urged the Minister of Works to train warning in statements and selections regarding a mission it considers essential to the Niger Delta.
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