Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Governor Diri Opens Up on Disagreement With Umahi

Bayelsa State Governor Douye Diri has spoken out on the controversy surrounding the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, insisting that the ambitious project is possible despite concerns about the Niger Delta’s swampy terrain.

According to Premium Times, Diri disagreed with former Cross River State Governor Donald Duke, who had described the coastal highway as unbuildable because of the difficult terrain in Bayelsa and the number of bridges the project might require.

Diri, through his spokesperson, Daniel Alabrah, expressed disappointment with Duke’s comments, arguing that the former governor was not fully aware of the progress made in road and bridge construction across Bayelsa State.

The Bayelsa governor cited projects such as the Nembe-Brass Road, Sagbama-Ekeremor-Agge Road and Yenagoa-Oporoma Road as examples of infrastructure built across challenging terrain.

He also pointed to the 630-metre bridge across River Nun at Angiama as evidence that major infrastructure projects could succeed in the Niger Delta.

Why the Coastal Highway Is Facing Controversy

The dispute comes amid growing debate over the route of the 750-kilometre Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, a major Federal Government project designed to connect coastal states and improve trade, transportation and economic activities.

Works Minister Dave Umahi recently clarified that the Federal Government had not abandoned the coastal highway. However, he said President Bola Tinubu directed that parts of the route should use the existing East-West Road because of difficult terrain and flooding concerns.

According to TheCable, Umahi maintained that the coastal highway remained intact, while the government planned additional reconstruction work on about 400 kilometres of the East-West Road.

The proposed route changes have attracted criticism from coastal communities and political figures who fear that moving sections of the highway inland could deny riverine communities the economic benefits originally promised by the project.

Diri Says Niger Delta Deserves Infrastructure Development

Diri maintained that the highway could unlock economic opportunities for communities across the Niger Delta, particularly areas that have struggled with poor road access for decades.

He also urged political leaders not to allow partisan disagreements to overshadow development projects that could benefit the region.

The controversy has continued to attract attention, with Premium Times reporting on October 21, 2026, that the House of Representatives called for a review of the proposed realignment to protect coastal communities and preserve the highway’s original development objectives.

The lawmakers called for an independent assessment of the engineering requirements, environmental impact, economic implications and overall cost of the proposed route changes.

As debate continues, the Federal Government faces growing calls to explain the final route and demonstrate how the project will serve the communities it was designed to connect.

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