A powerful coalition of civil society organizations is raising the alarm over plans to route the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway through the Stubb’s Creek Forest Reserve in Akwa Ibom State. At a recent press conference in Abuja, a group representing 69 prominent organizations including well-known names in human rights, transparency, and environmental advocacy expressed deep concern following hints from the state government that it might de-reserve portions of this protected land to make way for the road.
The coalition, which includes voices from Amnesty International Nigeria, SERAP, BudgIT, and Yiaga Africa, among others, highlighted that Stubb’s Creek is not just a patch of woods. It is a legally gazetted forest reserve dating back to 1930 and serves as one of Nigeria’s most vital mangrove-freshwater ecosystems. As a recognized biodiversity hotspot, it is home to thousands of species, many of which are rare or face the threat of extinction.
Beyond its importance to wildlife, the reserve acts as a natural shield for the people living nearby. The organizations pointed out that the forest provides essential coastal protection and flood control. It also serves as a critical breeding ground for fisheries that sustain the livelihoods of numerous forest-dependent communities. Carving a major highway through such a delicate environment could lead to catastrophic deforestation and leave the region far more vulnerable to erosion and flooding.
The message from the CSOs is clear: while the highway is a massive infrastructure goal, its path should not come at the cost of an irreplaceable ecosystem. They argued that the project can and should be rerouted. To support this, they noted that other sections of the Lagos–Calabar highway have already been realigned in different areas, proving that alternative paths are entirely possible when environmental safety is taken seriously.
Destroying mangrove forests in the Niger Delta would not only harm the local climate but also undermine Nigeria’s international environmental commitments. The coalition warned that such a move violates the principle of preserving the earth for future generations. They are now calling on the Federal Ministry of Works to officially move the highway alignment away from Stubb’s Creek and its surrounding buffer zones.
The group is also demanding full transparency regarding alternative routes and a commitment to strictly following environmental laws. For these advocates, the potential economic benefits of the road do not outweigh the irreversible damage that cutting through this ancient reserve would cause to the region’s social and ecological future.
