The Federal Government has threatened to shut down the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within two weeks if motorists, transport operators and other road users fail to comply with safety regulations and restrictions imposed along the ongoing construction corridor.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, issued the warning on Monday during a media briefing convened at the directive of the Minister of Works, David Umahi.
Dare said the decision followed growing concerns over recurrent fatal accidents, reckless driving, illegal activities, vandalism and security breaches along the highway.
According to him, the Federal Ministry of Works will return to the highway in two weeks to assess compliance and determine whether there has been sufficient improvement.
He warned that failure to record significant progress could lead to the closure of the affected section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Dare said construction work was still ongoing along the highway, which spans approximately 103 kilometres in Lagos State and includes 20 major bridges.
He explained that Section One of the project runs from the end of Ahodubule to Eleko Junction, covering about 47 kilometres, while Section Two extends from Eleko Junction to Ode-Omi in Ogun Waterside at the Lagos-Ogun State boundary, covering approximately 56 kilometres.
Despite repeated warnings and clearly displayed road signs, the controller said many motorists continued to disregard the 30km per hour speed limit imposed along the construction corridors.
He said some motorists had been observed driving at speeds of up to 120km per hour on sections where bridge construction and other major works were still underway.
“Lives are being lost on the coastal road almost every other day. We are here and we can see it. Lives are being lost every day. And with all of this, it must stop,” Dare said.
He declared that over-speeding on the highway would no longer be tolerated, directing motorists to comply strictly with the 30km per hour speed limit or face enforcement measures.
The Federal Controller also disclosed that the Federal Government was working with the Lagos State Police Command to address security and traffic challenges along the highway.
He said the Lagos State Commissioner of Police had held two meetings with relevant authorities over the weekend and ordered increased police presence along the coastal highway.
Dare also warned truck and trailer operators against parking on the highway, saying articulated vehicles found obstructing the road would be towed away.
The government further announced a ban on commercial motorcycles and tricycles, including Keke Marwa, along the highway.
Dare said illegal U-turns were also prohibited, warning road users against activities that could endanger motorists and other commuters.
“It’s completely banned. No Keke Marwa is completely banned. All manner of tricycles, they are banned on the coastal highway,” he said.
According to him, police arrested at least 100 commercial motorcyclists operating along the highway within the previous week, with enforcement expected to be intensified.
Apart from traffic violations, Dare expressed concern over the increasing number of unauthorised activities along the highway corridor.
He said authorities had identified more than 10 illegal settlements along the route, adding that shanties and other unauthorised structures would be removed.
“Shanties, we are coming for you,” he warned.
He also announced a ban on animal grazing along the highway, saying anyone found with livestock on the road would face prosecution.
Hawking would equally no longer be tolerated, particularly around kilometre 18, where traders had allegedly converted sections of the highway into makeshift markets.
Dare further warned against sleeping on the highway median and other activities that expose people to danger.
The Federal Controller identified vandalism as another major threat to the project, revealing that vandals had removed approximately five kilometres of clear-view fencing installed along the highway.
He added that manhole covers spanning about 18 kilometres had also been stolen.
According to Dare, the vandalism was often carried out at night, with criminals cutting and removing metal components of the road infrastructure despite security patrols.
“Vandalisation. They come in the night. They remove the clear-view fence that was used to barricade the community from the coastal highway. They removed them. They cut it. And they packed it away,” he said.
He added that directional signs were also being removed because of their metal components, while some concrete structures were being broken to extract reinforcement materials from manhole covers.
Coastal Guard to be reorganised
To strengthen surveillance and protect infrastructure, the Federal Government is also reorganising the Coastal Guard operating along the highway.
Dare said the initiative would come under the direct supervision of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, with personnel drawn from communities located along the coastal corridor.
He explained that the community-based security arrangement was intended to encourage residents to participate in protecting government infrastructure and reporting criminal activities within their areas.
However, he acknowledged that the security challenges along the highway had made infrastructure protection increasingly difficult.
Responding to concerns about repeated attacks on personnel, Dare disclosed that at least two Coastal Guard members had been stabbed while attempting to protect the infrastructure.
He said photographs were available to document the incidents.
The government, he added, was considering alternative security measures, including replacing some sections of the clear-view fencing with structures that would be more difficult to remove or vandalise.
‘It’s not going to be business as usual’
Dare urged motorists, transport operators, traders, residents and other users of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to take the government’s warnings seriously.
“This is a heads-up for all these hoodlums,” he said, stressing that the authorities would no longer allow criminal activities and persistent violations along the highway to continue unchecked.
He said reckless driving, illegal parking, unauthorised commercial activities, vandalism and other abuses were putting lives at risk while undermining the huge public investment in the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Dare therefore reiterated that the Federal Government would return to the road in two weeks to evaluate the situation.
He warned that if there was no substantial improvement in compliance and safety, the government could shut down the Lagos section of the highway.
“It’s not going to be business as usual,” he declared.
