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By Monday Ajogun
The National Youth Wing of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the decision to redesign and divert the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Speaking at a press conference in Benin on Tuesday, the National Youth Leader of PANDEF, Chief DonBen Donyegha, demanded the immediate cancellation of the proposed Ondo/East-West rerouting.
Donyegha called for the restoration of the highway to its original coastal alignment, insisting that the project must fulfil its intended purpose of connecting coastal communities across the region.
He warned that diverting the construction of the coastal road from its original coastal alignment, could undermine the interests of Niger Delta communities.
Donyegha described the announcement by the Minister of Works, Mr Dave Umahi, as more than a technical adjustment to the highway’s design.
He stressed that the federal government must not abandon coastal communities that had endured the environmental consequences of oil exploration and exploitation for decades.
He further said that these communities deserved meaningful infrastructure development, improved connectivity and tangible benefits from their contributions to the country’s economy.
According to him, previous administrations failed to adequately address the region’s connectivity challenges, making the original coastal highway alignment a welcome development.
He maintained that residents of the Niger Delta expected the project to improve transportation and provide direct access to underserved littoral states and communities.(NAN)
AJOM/KOO
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