The Federal Government has given motorists and other road users on the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway two weeks to comply with safety regulations, warning that the route could be shut down if the situation does not improve.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, issued the warning on Monday during an inspection of the highway, citing speeding, vandalism, illegal parking and other activities that could endanger road users and damage infrastructure.
Dare said the directive followed concerns raised by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, over repeated violations along the highway.
“Within two weeks, if there’s no improvement on all these issues, then we have no option than to come back and shutdown this road,” he said.
He explained that the coastal highway remains under construction and that the Lekki-Epe Expressway is available as an alternative route.
The Lagos section covers about 103 kilometres and is divided into two sections: approximately 47 kilometres for Section One and 56 kilometres for Section Two. The two sections have 20 major bridges, with several still under construction.
Dare expressed particular concern over speeding, saying motorists had been driving at speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour despite the 30km/h limit imposed because construction work is still ongoing.
“People who come to coastal road and get to a speed of 120 kilometres per hour on the coastal road, and where constructions are going on, bridges, construction are going on,” Dare said.
“We have said your speed on the coastal road must not be more than 30 kilometres per hour.”
He said the government was also concerned about reports of deaths occurring along the route and warned that unsafe practices could no longer be ignored.
Truck and trailer operators were also warned against using the highway as a parking area. Dare said articulated vehicles parked along the road would face enforcement action.
On security, he disclosed that the government had reached an agreement with the Lagos State Police Command to increase police presence along the highway following discussions between Umahi and the state Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani.
“Beginning from this morning, we’ve started to see the improvement in deployment of police. And we are going to have more,” he said.
Dare also warned motorists against creating or using unauthorised U-turns, saying those arrested over such activities would be prosecuted.
The government has also prohibited motorcycles, tricycles, hawking and animal grazing along the highway. Shanties and other illegal structures are also expected to be removed.
“We don’t want Okada motorcycles, tricycles. We don’t want them on the coastal road,” Dare said.
Vandalism of road infrastructure was another major concern highlighted during the inspection. Dare disclosed that about five kilometres of ClearVu fencing had been removed, while approximately 18 kilometres of concrete covers had been vandalised and taken away.
“They come in the night, they remove the ClearVu fence that was used to barricade the communities from the coastal highway,” he said.
The government is considering replacing vulnerable sections of the steel fencing with concrete barriers, which officials believe would be more difficult to remove. CCTV cameras are also planned to strengthen surveillance along the route.
Dare further disclosed that 40 coastal guards had been approved for the first section of the highway, with four expected to be selected from each community along the route.
The guards will work alongside the police to provide community-level surveillance, while additional personnel are expected to be recruited for the second section.
The government also plans to reorganise and train the coastal guards under the supervision of the Lagos State Police Command, after some previously engaged guards were reportedly attacked by vandals.
The Federal Government’s two-week ultimatum means that road users and other persons operating along the route are expected to comply with the safety and security regulations before officials return to assess the situation. If the violations persist, the Lagos section could be closed.
