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*RESOLUTION ARRIVED AT THE JOINT MEETING OF THOUGHT LEADERS OF ILAJE COMMUNITIES OF ONDO STATE AND ITSEKIRI COMMUNITIES OF DELTA STATE HELD IN LAGOS ON 19 SEPTEMBER 2026.
After exhaustive deliberations by stakeholders regarding the Lagos to Calabar Coastal Highway, the Ilaje and Itsekiri Nations have decided as follows:
1. The Itsekiri nation is enjoined to issue a press release denouncing the diversion of the coastal road by Senator David Umahi, Minister of Works, to non-coastal communities contrary to the vision of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria;
2. After examining all the empirical facts and circumstances, the Ilaje and Itsekiri have decided to work together to ensure that the coastal road maintains its original route, passing through the coastal communities.
3. Dave Umahi’s statement as to why the road cannot pass through these communities is patently false as:
a) The cost of constructing one kilometer of road along the coastal road, which includes Ilaje communities in Ondo State and Itsekiri communities in Delta State, is approximately ₦4 to ₦7.5 billion, while the cost of diverting the road through Umahi diversion and manipulation from the coast to the hinterland is between ₦7.5 and ₦12 billion.
b) The distance from Olosunmeta to Itsekiri axis in Delta State is between 100 and 110 kilometres. On the other hand, the Umahi New Road will take 170-190 kilometers, which will dramatically increase the length of the Road and the cost.
c) The new road is swampy, full of bridges and has very difficult terrain, compared to the straight road from Olosunmeta through Araromi, Abe-Oroyo, Ogogoro, Ugbonla, Apata, Awoye, Ugbege, Oghoye, Orere, Agogboro, Ode-Ugborodo etc. across the entire coastline of Delta State.
4. Decided to establish a Tactical Committee composed of representatives of the Ilaje and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities, whose functions will include, among others:
a) Establish the necessary contacts and appeal to the Federal Government to maintain the sanctity of the coastal road as envisaged by Mr. President.
b) Sensitization, conscientization and mobilization of our traditional institutions, youth, women, professionals and other stakeholders to exert their influence in this regard.
c) Where possible, legal action should be taken to ensure that justice, fairness and fairness prevail.
d) Draft a comprehensive memorandum including traditional institutions, religious leaders, market women, opinion leaders and all stakeholders in the Niger Delta region in Ilaje and Itsekiri nations, which will be communicated to the appropriate authorities and institutions on why the Lagos to Calabar highway should remain coastal along the Ondo State and Delta corridors.
e) An implementation committee should be established to oversee the mobilization and coordination of all resolutions reached by the two ethnic nationalities.
Dated September 19, 2026.
ETHNIC NATIONALITY ITSEKIRI ETHNIC NATIONALITY ILAJE
Electronically signed Electronically signed
*BARR AUSTIN NONEN OBOROEGBEYI *DR BENSON ENIKUOMEHIN FCPA
*COMRADE AMAECHI OMAGBITSE *DR ADEOLU AUSTIN EFOTAN
