By LYDIA CHIGOZIE-NGWAKWE

The Federal Ministry of Works has trained 40 youths from host communities to patrol the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and protect the multi-billion Naira project from vandalism and other crimes.

The youths, who were trained by the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos on Tuesday, will work in shifts, with 20 on daytime patrol and 20 on night duty.

Speaking at the training, Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mr Olufemi Dare, said the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, directed the initiative to protect the highway from rising cases of vandalism and misuse.

Dare said the guards would support police operations by monitoring the corridor and reporting offenders, adding that they were not police officers and would only hand suspects over to the police for prosecution.

According to him, the government has recorded persistent theft of critical infrastructure, including clear-view steel fences, manhole covers and directional signs installed along the highway.

He disclosed that vandals had stolen about one kilometre of the steel fence and repeatedly removed manhole covers over an 18-kilometre stretch of the road in spite of replacements by contractors.

“We must not allow this huge investment by the Federal Government to be destroyed by criminals.

“The President and the Minister of Works are committed to protecting this project, which is why these 40 youths have been engaged to support the police,” he said.

Dare warned that scavengers posing as scrap metal collectors, illegal dumpers, Okada riders, tricycles operators, stationary trucks and roaming livestock would no longer be allowed on the superhighway.

He said the ministry had procured 20 new motorcycles, branded “Coastal Road Guards”, to support the patrol teams.

He added that the guards’ activities would be closely monitored, warning that any member found engaging in misconduct or criminal activities would be prosecuted.

The controller also said the ministry was collaborating with the Lagos State Government and relevant agencies to curb indiscriminate refuse dumping along the corridor.

He warned that anyone caught dumping refuse on the highway would face the full weight of the law.

Also speaking, the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Zone 2, Lagos, Hakeem Ajasa, charged the recruits to carry out their responsibilities with discipline, professionalism and integrity.

Ajasa warned them against extortion, abuse of authority and jungle justice, stressing that they must always hand over suspects to the police.

“You are not there to collect money from anybody. If anyone is found extorting road users or abusing the assignment, the police will not spare such a person,” he said.

He urged the recruits to prioritise intelligence gathering, document offences with cameras or mobile phones where necessary and work only within their assigned communities.

Ajasa warned that anyone caught vandalising or committing related offences would be prosecuted according to the law.

Similarly, the Assistant Commissioner of Police and Area Commander, Area A, Lion Building, Godwin Idehai, described the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a national asset deserving maximum protection.

Idehai urged the recruits to embrace community policing by working with residents to identify and apprehend criminals attempting to vandalise public infrastructure.

He advised them to remain patriotic, diligent and committed to the assignment.

The Community Relations Manager of HITEC Construction Company, Mr David Omaghomi, said the initiative aligned with the contractor’s community engagement strategy aimed at ensuring sustainable infrastructure delivery.

Omaghomi said the security arrangement was designed to strengthen intelligence gathering and surveillance rather than create an armed enforcement outfit.

“Our responsibility is to provide information, monitor activities and quickly alert the police whenever vandalism occurs.

“We are the eyes and ears of the security architecture because we are closest to the communities,” he said.

He noted that investigations had shown that most of the vandalism was perpetrated by outsiders rather than host communities, urging residents to protect their reputation by exposing criminals.

Omaghomi added that community representatives involved in the initiative could be replaced if found wanting.

Speaking on behalf of the recruits, the Assistant Team Lead of the Coastal Highway Security Guards, Mr Kelvin Okereke, commended President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works for the initiative.

Okereke assured the ministry and Nigerians that the security guards would protect the highway and its infrastructure from vandalism.

He pledged that the team would remain committed to safeguarding manholes, fencing, road furniture and other public assets along the corridor.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the Federal Government’s flagship road infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity, trade and economic development across Nigeria’s coastal states. (NAN)