FG Threatens Closure Of Lagos-Calabar Highway Over Safety Non-Compliance
OLORUNDARE ENIMOLA, Lagos
The Federal Government has warned that it may shut down the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within two weeks if motorists and other road users fail to comply with safety regulations and restrictions associated with the ongoing construction of the road.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr. Olufemi Dare, issued the warning on Monday during a media briefing in Lagos, saying the directive followed repeated fatalities, reckless driving, vandalism and other criminal activities along the highway.
According to Dare, the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, directed the Federal Ministry of Works to review the situation after two weeks, warning that the highway would be closed if there was no significant improvement in compliance and safety.
He explained that construction work was still in progress on the coastal highway, which includes 20 major bridges across its 103-kilometre Lagos alignment. Section One stretches from Ahodubule to Eleko Junction, covering about 47 kilometres, while Section Two extends from Eleko Junction to Odo-Ome at the Lagos-Ogun boundary, spanning approximately 56 kilometres.
Dare lamented that many motorists had continued to ignore the mandatory speed limit of 30 kilometres per hour, with some reportedly driving at speeds exceeding 120 kilometres per hour despite conspicuous warning signs.
“Lives are being lost on the coastal road almost every other day. It must stop,” he said, stressing that speeding would no longer be tolerated and that violators would face enforcement measures.
The Federal Controller also announced stricter enforcement against traffic and environmental offences on the highway.
He said articulated vehicles would no longer be allowed to park along the road, warning that offending trucks and trailers would be impounded.
He further declared a total ban on illegal U-turns, commercial motorcycles (Okada), tricycles and other similar vehicles on the highway, noting that police had arrested about 100 commercial motorcyclists operating illegally on the corridor within the past week.
To strengthen enforcement, Dare disclosed that the Federal Government had intensified collaboration with the Lagos State Police Command. According to him, the Commissioner of Police recently held strategic meetings with relevant stakeholders and ordered increased deployment of officers to the highway.
Beyond traffic violations, the government also expressed concern over illegal occupation of the highway corridor.
Dare said authorities had identified more than 10 illegal settlements along the route, warning that shanties and unauthorised structures would be demolished. He added that roadside hawking, animal grazing and sleeping on the highway median would no longer be tolerated, particularly around Kilometre 18, where traders had allegedly converted sections of the road into makeshift markets.
The Controller also raised the alarm over persistent vandalism of public infrastructure along the highway.
He revealed that vandals had removed about five kilometres of clear-view security fencing and stolen manhole covers across roughly 18 kilometres of the road. Directional signs and other metallic components had also been targeted, while some concrete structures had been damaged to extract reinforcement materials.
According to him, some personnel assigned to protect the infrastructure had been attacked, with at least two members of the Coastal Guard reportedly stabbed while on duty.
To improve security, Dare said the Federal Government was restructuring the Coastal Guard into a community-based surveillance arrangement under the supervision of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police. He explained that residents along the highway corridor would be engaged to help monitor infrastructure and report criminal activities.
He urged motorists, transport operators, traders and residents to comply with all safety directives, warning that the continued loss of lives, reckless driving, illegal commercial activities and vandalism were undermining the huge investment committed to the coastal highway project.
“If there is no substantial improvement within two weeks, the Federal Government will have no option but to shut down the Lagos section of the highway,” Dare warned, adding that “it is not going to be business as usual.”
