The Ijaw Youth Council Worldwide has called on the Federal Government to make the approved plans for the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway public, amid concerns that a possible route change could leave several South-South states outside the project’s original alignment.

Speaking at a press conference at Ijaw House in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, the council’s National President, Dr Doubra Okotete, urged President Bola Tinubu to ensure that the highway follows its approved route through Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers states. The call followed reports that part of the road could be redirected towards the East-West Road.

The council wants the government to publish the project’s approved designs and engineering drawings so that the public can understand the planned alignment and assess any proposed changes. It also urged the President to direct the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to adhere to the route approved by the Federal Executive Council.

Okotete argued that difficult terrain and construction costs should not be used to justify changing the route. He pointed to projects such as the Nembe-Brass Road in Bayelsa, which he said includes more than 15 bridges along a 21-kilometre stretch, as evidence that road construction through the Niger Delta’s wetlands and creeks is possible.

He also cited the Yenagoa-Oporoma-Ukubie and Ekeremor-Agge roads in Bayelsa, alongside projects in Rivers and Delta states, including the Bonny Ring Road and Port Harcourt-Okrika Road. The council said these projects demonstrate the ongoing efforts to connect communities separated by rivers, swamps and mangrove forests.

The IYC further called for construction to begin on the Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo sections while work continues on other parts of the coastal highway. It also offered to sponsor former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke on a visit to inspect infrastructure projects in Bayelsa and Rivers, following comments attributed to him questioning the highway’s feasibility and cost.

Okotete warned that changing the route could undermine public confidence in the Federal Government and disappoint communities expecting better transport links and economic opportunities. The council says publishing the approved plans and providing clarity on construction timelines would help address concerns, but the Federal Government’s position on the reported diversion was not included in the statement.