President Bola Tinubu directs that the Lagos–Calabar coastal highway be re-routed to connect with the existing East–West road, with Works Minister David Umahi providing the rationale. Umahi says the plan is to avoid building a new alignment along parts of the coastal corridor and instead route the highway through the East–West road from Ondo into Edo State.
Umahi links the change to engineering and climate-risk considerations. Outlets report that flooding concerns and the vulnerability of sections of the East–West corridor—particularly around the Ughelli axis in Delta State—are driving measures such as raising road sections by about two metres above present conditions and expected flood levels. Several accounts also describe flooding interventions at state level and federal plans to improve the route.
The reporting also includes details on additional adjustments: outlets say the original coastal alignment in Ondo faces difficult terrain, leading to a redesigned route with extensive filling works to improve construction feasibility and cost. Umahi further outlines progress on other segments of the wider Lagos–Calabar project, including completed and ongoing works across multiple states, alongside plans such as a Benin bypass to reduce congestion in Benin City.
