The Federal Government of Nigeria has stopped the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway realignment after destroying some businesses.
This was announced during the 3rd stakeholders meeting held in Lagos by the minister of work, Dave Umahi.
Where he disclosed that coastal highway realignment would be put on hold because of the submarine cables along the coastlines.
Adding that, the Federal Government has decided not to proceed with the route to save telecommunications infrastructure and submarine cables.
He said;
“We have three critical infrastructures that are located on one spot. One is the 2Africa submarine cable that cuts across 33 countries connecting about three billion people. That cable landed at Mopo and where it landed, the West African cable systems (WACS) had already been located there about 17 years ago.
We have a mega IPP which is to provide power to the 2Africa cable and the WACS cable. The power plant is a 50 megawatt power plant expected to support this infrastructure.
The (new) corridor is passing right on the submarine cable and the other side is on the IPP. You cannot have the submarine cables without power. They will not function. The submarine cable is a critical national security infrastructure. If it is affected, everybody will be affected.”
However, the announcement comes after the telecommunication companies warned the Federal Government of the possibility of network outage in the country if the diversion is not reviewed.
Recall that the construction of the coastal highway has affected several beachfront and private businesses like Landmark and Good Beach, amongst others.
The Federal government is now considering other options to ensure the continuation of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
