In a significant move to safeguard crucial submarine cables, the Lagos-Calabar Highway has been rerouted to its original path for a stretch of 9 kilometers, distancing itself from the shoreline. This announcement was made by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during a stakeholder meeting in Lagos on Thursday.
Minister Umahi also disclosed plans to remove 750 homes situated near the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to facilitate this change. “We have three critical infrastructures located in one spot,” Umahi explained. “The 2Africa submarine cable, which spans 33 countries and connects approximately three billion people, landed at Mopo, where the West African Cable Systems (WACS) has been in place for 17 years.”
He highlighted the importance of a new 50-megawatt power plant designed to support both the 2Africa and WACS cables. “The new corridor is right over 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 critical national security infrastructure. If it is affected, everybody will be affected.”
Umahi emphasized the importance of the rerouting by citing a recent incident: “Two months ago, an issue in Côte d’Ivoire caused a significant blackout across a large part of Africa. This isn’t just a private project; it’s a national project linked to our internet gateway and national security.”
The minister appealed for the road to be diverted back to its original path as per the gazette to protect these vital infrastructures. “We commend the federal government for constructing this road, which is essential for national development. However, for such crucial telecommunications infrastructure, the government needs to be sensitive and divert the road away from these critical assets.”
Concluding his remarks, Umahi presented the proposal and old alignment plans, stating, “To resolve concerns from MTN, 2Africa, and the Okun Ajah community, we are reverting to the original alignment and rejoining the new alignment at kilometer 25. Congratulations.”
