The Federal Government has lamented that vandals have carted away kilometres of iron fencing and manhole covers installed along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. According to the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engineer Olufemi Dare, the vandalisation has forced the government to intensify security measures and ban a range of activities on the strategic road. The highway is still under construction, with several bridges and other critical infrastructure yet to be completed.
Engineer Olufemi Dare disclosed that about five kilometres of clear-view fencing had been removed, while manhole covers covering an estimated 18-kilometre stretch had also been stolen. He stated that the vandalisation was being carried out despite security patrols, with perpetrators allegedly operating at night to cut and remove the metal components of the highway infrastructure. The development has become a major concern to the Government.
The vandals have also removed directional signs along the road, apparently targeting their iron components for resale. Dare said the government was consequently considering replacing some of the clear-view fencing with blockwork, noting that sections protected with blockwork had not experienced similar levels of vandalism. This move aims to prevent further theft and protect the highway infrastructure.
The government has simultaneously launched a wider crackdown on activities it considers capable of compromising the safety and security of the coastal highway. Dare announced a ban on illegal occupation and shanties, truck parking, illegal U-turns, roadside hawking, animal grazing, motorcycles and tricycles on the highway. The ban aims to ensure the safety of road users and prevent further vandalism.
The Federal controller said illegal occupants and shanties along the route would also be removed, with security agencies expected to carry out enforcement operations. He warned truck drivers against using the highway as a parking area, saying vehicles found parked along the road would be clamped and towed. Motorcycles, popularly known as Okada, and tricycles, including Keke Marwa, have also been prohibited from operating on the highway.
The government is also introducing a community-based coastal guard arrangement, with 40 guards approved for the first section of the road. Dare said additional personnel would be deployed to the second section. The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Oladipo, had promised increased police deployment along the highway following meetings with the Minister of Works, Engineer Dave Umahi.
The Lagos-Calabar Highway project is a significant infrastructure development in Nigeria, and the government is taking measures to protect it from vandalism. The introduction of CCTV cameras is being considered for strategic locations along the highway to strengthen surveillance. The government is working to complete the highway construction and ensure the safety and security of road users.
Key points
- The Federal Government has raised concerns over the vandalism of infrastructure along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
- The government has banned a range of activities on the highway, including truck parking, hawking, and animal grazing.
- The government is introducing a community-based coastal guard arrangement to protect the highway.
