Group writes Tinubu, lists benefits of including Ogheye, Koko, Ugborodo in Coastal Highway project

Pro-Itsekiri voluble female organization, Voice of Warri Kingdom Women Initiative, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to direct the Minister of Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, to include Ogheye, Koko and Ugborodo communities in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor, either directly through the main alignment or through properly designated connecting routes.

The group, in a petition addressed to President Tinubu, shortly after a peaceful rally in Warri, Delta State, Monday March 9, emphasized that the inclusion of the three Itsekiri communities/towns in the landmark national project, will bring several strategic benefits.

President of Voice of Warri Kingdom Women Initiative, Mrs. Vivian Eric Mene, who read the petition, which copied the Honourable Minister for Works, Engr. David Nweze Umahi and Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, commended the Federal Government for initiating the historic Lagos - Calabar Coastal Highway Project.

According to Mrs. Mene, inclusion of Ogheye, Koko and Ugborodo in Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, would improve access to remote coastal and riverine communities, thereby reducing long-standing transportation challenges as well as enhance economic development and expand of local commerce, especially in fishing, maritime trade, and tourism opportunities along the Atlantic coast.

She asserted that inclusion of the Itsekiri communities, would also strengthen national integration and equity, ensure that oil-producing coastal communities are not left behind in national infrastructure development as well as promote peace, stability, and inclusion within the Niger Delta region, through equitable development.

The petition, reads:

The President and Commander-in-Chief 

of the Armed Forces,

Federal Republic of Nigeria,

State House, Abuja, Nigeria

Attention: His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR

Through: 

The Honourable Minister of Works,

Federal Ministry of Works,

Abuja, Nigeria

Attention: Engr. David Nweze Umahi, 

CON Honourable Minister of Works

Copy To: 

His Excellency, 

Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori,

Executive Governor Delta State,

Government House, Asaba, Delta State

SUBJECT: APPEAL FOR THE OFFICIAL INCLUSION OF OGHEYE, KOKO, AND ESCRAVOS COMMUNITIES IN THE LAGOS - CALABAR COASTAL HIGHWAY PROJECT

Your Excellency,

We write with deep respect and appreciation to commend the Federal Government of Nigeria for initiating the historic Lagos - Calabar Coastal Highway Project, a transformative infrastructure initiative expected to significantly enhance connectivity, stimulate economic growth, and promote development across Nigeria’s coastal corridor.

This bold project has generated hope among many coastal communities within the Niger Delta region. However, information reaching our VOICE OF WARRI KINGDOM WOMEN INITIATIVE indicates that key Itsekiri coastal communities, particularly Ogheye, Koko, and Ugborodo in Delta State, may not yet be clearly captured in the official route alignment of the project.

In view of this development, we respectfully and passionately appeal to Your Excellency and the Federal Ministry of Works to kindly ensure the official inclusion of Ogheye, Koko, and Ugborodo communities in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway corridor, either directly through the main alignment or through properly designated connecting routes.

The Itsekiri people are among the major oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta, and for decades our land and waters have contributed immensely to the economic prosperity of the Federal Republic of Nigeria through oil and gas resources. Despite this critical contribution, many of our coastal communities continue to experience significant infrastructural limitations, particularly in road accessibility and transportation.

The inclusion of these communities in this landmark national project will bring several strategic benefits, including:

Improved access to remote coastal and riverine communities, thereby reducing long-standing transportation challenges.

Economic development and expansion of local commerce, especially in fishing, maritime trade, and tourism opportunities along the Atlantic coast.

Strengthening national integration and equity, ensuring that oil-producing coastal communities are not left behind in national infrastructure development.

Promotion of peace, stability, and inclusion within the Niger Delta region through equitable development.

It is our sincere belief that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, as a strategic coastal infrastructure project, should reflect the realities and contributions of the coastal host communities whose resources have long supported the national economy.

We therefore humbly appeal to Your Excellency, the Honourable Minister of Works, and the Delta State Government to kindly give this matter favourable consideration and ensure that Ogheye, Koko, and Ugborodo communities, are formally and officially included in the project framework.

It is better to protect what we have than to live for nothing. Our land is blessed with Oil so it is not a privilege, it is our right. We can’t be substitute in our own game, we should be major players like every other Niger Delta individual.

We remain confident in the Federal Government’s commitment to fairness, national unity, and inclusive development across all regions of the country.”

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