Transport is the cornerstone of civilization, an essential part of human activity. Road transportation in particular plays a significant role in the economic development of any nation, for high proportion of economic activities are dependent on an efficient network of roads. The Nigerian Coastal zone sprawls over a total of nine coastal states and stretch inland for a distance of 15km in Lagos in the West to about 150km in the Niger Delta and about 25km east of the Niger Delta. Coastal Roads constitute a major segment of national road network in countries with vast shorelines like Nigeria. The East-West Road undergoing reconstruction and upgrading is currently the most southern road running through the Region. It is about 40km from the coastline on the average, leaving a vast section of the coastal communities inaccessible by road transport and has naturally slowed down development and business expansion. The conception and proposal to construct an East-West Coastal Highway is thus a welcome development. The 704km highway with about 106km of spurs connects over 1,000 communities and serves as a strong east-west spine from Calabar towards Lagos, with several north-south ‘ribs’ connecting growth poles. The paper contributes to an understanding of the human environment of proposed project from a specialist perspective on impacts’ assessment study. Beneficiaries, prevailing baseline conditions and recognition of associated positive benefits including regional-national integration if implemented are discussed. High expectations await the coastal road execution and Government and her agencies should not tarry too long in doing the needful.

road transportation, Nigerian coastal zone, Niger Delta, East-West Coastal Highway, human environment