Investors Demand Review of Lekki Coastal Road Alignment to Safeguard Shoreline, Local Communities

Adedayo Akinwale

Investors affected by the coastal highway along the Lekki Peninsula have demanded review of the coastal road project to safeguard shoreline and local communities.

Recall that there was a controversial change in the road’s alignment, which has shifted it from the coastal edge towards the inner Okun-Ajah region.

However, the Federal Ministry of Works justified this alteration as necessary to avoid submarine telecommunications cables located around Kilometres 16 and 17.

But, the representative of the investors, Dr. Mike Akinlola, while addressing stakeholders at a meeting with top government officials said the these cables are, in fact, situated closer to Kilometres 25 to 27, near Sangotedo, and well beyond the Okun-Ajah area.

He lamented that environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) was conducted after the project’s commencement, rather than before, which is a clear case of putting the cart before the horse.

He stressed that this approach undermines the purpose of the ESIA, which is to identify and mitigate potential environmental and social risks.

Akinlola was of the opinion that a strategic repositioning of the road closer to the ocean could serve as a vital tool for shoreline preservation.

His words: “Maintaining the road’s original alignment, which runs nearer to the coastline, would effectively create a buffer against the alarming rates of erosion predicted for the Lekki Peninsula.

“Environmental experts project significant erosion over the next fifty years. By keeping the road adjacent to the coast and elevating its structure, we can transform it into both vital infrastructure and a natural protector of our shoreline, safeguarding our communities and cultural heritage.”

However, Dr. Akinlola pointed out that The project’s viability has also been called into question following a recent environmental and social impact assessment (ESIA) that raised several concerns,

He noted: “The ESIA fails to serve its intended purpose of preemptively identifying and mitigating risks to the environment. The sudden rerouting of the road has placed the Okun-Ajah community directly in its path, compromising their anticipated shoreline defenses and exacerbating their vulnerability to erosion.

“Environmental assessments indicated that noise levels exceeded legal limits across all surveyed areas, with concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) surpassing acceptable thresholds, posing serious health risks to local residents.

“The elevation of the road in rerouted areas now exceeds that of the surrounding land, heightening flood risks for nearby communities.

To this end, Akinlola urged the Ministry of Works to collaborate with other federal ministries to reassess the project’s alignment saying, a thoughtful alignment not only ensures the preservation of the peninsula but also establishes a lasting legacy for both the project and the administration.