A panel set up by the Ministry of Environment to review the draft of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) report of the Federal Ministry of Works for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project has called for its review.
This is just as the Ministry of Works directed Hitech Construction Company Limited — the firm responsible for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway construction — to repair internal roads damaged by the company’s heavy-duty equipment.
This resolution was made after the panel headed by Prof. Oladapo Afolabi, identified grey areas in the draft during a stakeholders workshop held in Lagos on Tuesday.
PUNCH Metro reported that the homeowners and residents of the Okun Ajah community in the Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State rejected the report, citing its failure to adequately protect residents amid the construction of the coastal highway.
The participants, especially the homeowners and residents also raised concerns over the failure to address shoreline erosion, leaving the community vulnerable.
Criticising the negligence of the Ministry of Works and the project contractor, an aggrieved resident, Mrs Memunah Usman, stated that the destruction of the community road had put the lives of residents at risk of erosion.
Usman stated, “I discovered that the contractor’s heavy equipment has damaged several of our community roads, particularly in Okun Ajah. The only road we have has been destroyed by Hitech. We haven’t seen any representatives from Hitech come to offer assistance or address the damage.
“Is there a plan to address the drainage system that has been damaged by your equipment? The harm caused by the construction company has resulted in erosion, which is destroying houses in the community.
“What plans do you (the contractor and Federal Government) have for the community and its residents? Are you only focused on the coastal road while ignoring the needs of the people? Where are your teams that should be assessing the conditions of those in the local area? We have children living in this community”.
Echoing the same concerns, a property owner in the community, Yusuf Oyenuga, urged the government to provide timely assistance for property owners in the area.
“Erosion has already caused significant damage to much of Okun Ajah and nearby areas. The shoreline needs to be fortified to prevent erosion and flooding from devastating the communities.
“We have been pleading for intervention, and now the opportunity has arrived. Whether there is a diversion or not, this is the reality that the community faces. People are suffering here.
Meanwhile, the panel chair assured the stakeholders that the Ministry of Environment would “respond to all the social-economic concerns on the road”.
Also, a member of the panel, Musa Emoabino, specifically noted that the reason for the diversion of the road in Okun Ajah was not properly specified in the draft ESIA for the project.
He also supported the agitation of the stakeholders that the road should be taken to the ocean side to save the community from surges.
Emoabino said, The initial route has been changed for some reasons and it has generated a lot of community interests and so on but the reason for the change, we have not seen it technically presented to us”.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, who was represented at the occasion by Abass Suleiman however assured the aggrieved stakeholders that their grievances would be taken to President Bola Tinubu.
“All your concerns have been noted and I will convey them to the Minister of Environment, who I assure you will convey them to the President. A mutually acceptable agreement will be taken on the project”, Suleiman assured the participants.
Responding to the residents’ concerns, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, who was represented by Olufemi Dare, ordered the Hitech representatives to return to the damaged road and begin their repair on Monday, 4 November 2024.
Dare said, Most of the contractor’s trucks passed through the Okun Ajah area. I was there personally and observed that some of the roads were damaged. We have representatives from Hitech present here.
This is a verbal instruction to them (Hitech). Within the week, we will write them officially. We are instructing you (Hitech) to go back to Okun Ajah and repair the internal roads.
“The internal road in Okun Ajah needs to be inspected and properly repaired. I was there myself and saw the condition of the road. Please, return and begin repairs on Monday. I also noticed the drainage; ensure that the existing drains are properly cleared of debris and sand to prevent erosion in the community”.
