News Investigators/ Former senator, Nicholas Tofowomo has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to examine the plights of Ilaje people over alleged diversion of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway from Ilaje, in Ilaje LGA.
Mr Tofowomo, who represented Ondo South at the National Assembly from 2019 to 2023, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Okitipupa.
NAN reports that the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway spans about 700km across nine states including Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross Rivers.
Mr Tofowomo, a former People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, expressed concern that more than 60 per cent of coastal communities in Ilaje LGA has been bypassed and sidelined by the Ministry of Works.
According to him, communities such as Ugbonla, Ilowo, Ilepete, Obe-Enikanoselu, Obe-Rewoye, Ikorigho, Jinrinwo, Awoye, and Igho fall squarely within the initial coastal route.
“It is disheartening that the route has been rebranded as an “inland highway” upon reaching Ondo State.
“The coastal highway now diverted through Oke-Upare to link communities in Ovia North and Ovia West of Edo State to accommodate Gelegele, a community located 10 to 20 kilometers away from the coastline,” he said.
Mr Tofowomo, an African Democratic Congress (ADC) senatorial candidate for Ondo South in the 2027 general elections, contended that Ilaje LGA has the longest coastline of over 80 to 100 kilometers and one of the highest producers of crude oil in the country.
He said that the coastal highway would open up and boost the economic activities of the Ilaje LGA and create several job opportunities for Ilaje youths and residents.
He added that it would also increase the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
The lawmaker, who commended Tinubu’s bold initiative to revive the coastal highway project, urged him to examine the plights of Ilaje people and realign the highway back to its true coastal path, involving Ilaje communities.
“Ilaje has the longest coastline in the country with almost 80 to 100 kilometers; its coastal visibility will beautify the coastal highway.
“I am appealing to Tinubu to examine the plights of Ilaje people, as one of the highest producer of crude oil contributing to the IGR of the country and realign the coastal highway back to its true path,” Tofowomo said.
However, he stated that he is returning to the senate on the ADC platform to ensure his stalled bills are revisited.
He noted that these bills focus especially on Ilaje LGA, the state’s commercial hub, and aim to put the district on the world map.
NAN