Afenifere, the Pan‑Yoruba socio‑political organisation, has sharply criticised the Federal Government’s decision to shift the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway away from its historic seaside path, terming the deviation as unacceptable to Ondo and other coastal communities .
Secretary‑General Chief Sola Ebiseni highlighted the highway’s roots in colonial planning, referencing archival records dating back to 1900 and a 1904 agreement between colonial authorities that defined its coastal alignment . He stressed that bending the route inland—from Ondo to Delta—ignores large segments of coastal territory that stand to benefit from economic development.
While he commended President Tinubu for launching the highway, Ebiseni warned that going off‑coast, especially in oil‑rich regions, raises legitimate concerns among locals. He accused the Works Minister of misleading the public by stating that the coastal route will only be followed in Lagos .
He further pointed out that the untouched coastal areas outside Lagos present prime opportunities for business growth and infrastructure expansion, urging the government to maintain the original lineage of the highway for lasting legacy, not just political optics .
Ebiseni also praised activist Reno Omokri’s on‑the‑ground reporting of the highway construction, framing it as a valuable civic contribution that surpasses mere “sound and fury” from the government .
On the internal health of Afenifere, the Secretary‑General noted that the recent elevation of Oba Oladipo Olaitan from Osun marks progress toward resolving longstanding regional imbalances in leadership. He expressed confidence that the ideological tensions within the group remain manageable, pointing to its deep ideological foundations since its founding era .
Summary in Brief:Afenifere demands that the Lagos‑Calabar Coastal Highway remain true to its original coastal alignment, warning that bypassing key oil‑producing and coastal communities could short‑change these regions and undermine the project’s economic and historical integrity. Internally, the group remains united as its new leadership works to bridge ideological divides.
