*RESOLUTION ARRIVED AT IN THE JOINT MEETING OF LEADERS OF THOUGHT IN ILAJE COMMUNITIES OF ONDO STATE AND ITSEKIRI COMMUNITIES OF DELTA STATE HELD IN LAGOS ON 19TH SEPTEMBER, 2026.
After exhaustive deliberations by the Stakeholders in respect of the Coastal Highway from Lagos to Calabar, the Ilaje and Itsekiri Nations resolved as follows:
1. The Itsekiri Nation is enjoined to issue Press Statement denouncing the rerouting 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 agreed to work together in making sure the Coastal Road maintains its Original Route, passing through the Coastal Communities.
3. Dave Umahi’s claim as to the reason why the road cannot go through these communities is blatant falsehood in that:
a) The Cost of Construction of a Kilometre of Road along the Coastal Route, which includes the Ilaje Communities in Ondo State and the Itsekiri Communities in Delta State, is about ₦4 billion to ₦7.5 billion, whereas the Cost of Rerouting the Road through Umahi’s Diversion and Manipulation from the Coast to the Hinterland Area is a minimum of ₦7.5 billion to ₦12 billion.
b) The distance from Olosunmeta to the Itsekiri Axis in Delta State is between 100 –110 Kilometres. On the other hand, Umahi’s New Route will take 170–190 kilometres, which will increase egregiously the length of the Road and the Cost.
c) The New Route is Swampy, Full of Bridges, and has very difficult terrain, as against the straight road from Olosunmeta through Araromi, Abe-Oroyo, Ogogoro, Ugbonla, Apata, Awoye, Ugbege, Oghoye, Orere, Agogboro, Ode-Ugborodo e.t.c through the entire Coastline of Delta State.
4. Agreed to set up a Tactical Committee consisting of representatives from the Ilaje and Itsekiri ethnic nationalities, whose functions shall, among others, include:
a) Making necessary contacts and appealing to the Federal Government to maintain the sanctity of the Coastal Road as envisioned by Mr. President.
b) Sensitising, Conscientising, and Mobilising our Traditional Institutions, Youths, Women, Professionals, and other Stakeholders to bring their influence to bear in this regard.
c) Where possible, legal action should be embarked upon to ensure that justice, equity, and fairness prevail.
d) To draft an all inclusive memorandum which will include Traditional Institutions, Religious Leaders, Market Women, Opinion Leaders and all Stakeholders in the Niger Delta region of Ilaje and Itsekiri Nations which shall be communicated to the appropriate authorities and institutions on why the Highway from Lagos to Calabar should remain Coastal along the corridors of Ondo and Delta State.
e) An Implementation Committee should be set up to oversee the mobilisation and coordination of all the resolutions reached by the two ethnic nationalities.
Dated this 19th day of September 2026.
ITSEKIRI ETHNIC NATIONALITY ILAJE ETHNIC NATIONALITY
E-Signed E-Signed
*BARR AUSTIN NONEN OBOROEGBEYI *DR BENSON ENIKUOMEHIN FCPA
*COMRADE AMAECHI OMAGBITSE *DR ADEOLU AUSTIN EFOTAN
