The Federal Government has threatened to shut down the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within two weeks if persistent violations, including speeding, illegal parking, vandalism, and other activities that endanger lives and damage infrastructure, are not stopped.

Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr Olufemi Dare, gave the warning on Monday during a press briefing on the coastal road, saying the Minister of Works, David Umahi, had directed that the highway be closed if there was no significant improvement within the two-week period.

Dare said the decision became necessary because lives were being lost on the highway almost every other day, despite repeated warnings to motorists and other users of the road. “Let me say this categorically, construction is still ongoing on this road. Ordinarily we ought not to have opened it until all the bridges are completed,” he said.

He said the speed limit on the road was 30 kilometres per hour because of ongoing construction and bridge works, but motorists had continued to drive at speeds of up to 100 and 120 kilometres per hour. “This cannot continue. Let me say this, lives are being lost on the coastal road. Almost every other day,” Dare said.

The government also disclosed the scale of vandalism of infrastructure along the highway, saying about 18 kilometres of drainage covers (manholes) and at least five kilometres of Clearview fencing had been removed.

“They come in the night, they remove the clear field fence that was used to barricade the communities from the coastal highway. They cut it and they cart them away. In the night,” he said.

He said the Federal Government was considering replacing the Clearview fencing with block walls in areas where vandalism had become persistent. “In areas where we have block work, till today we do not have any major problem with them,” Dare said. He added that the government was also working on the installation of closed-circuit television cameras to strengthen surveillance along the highway.

To improve security, Dare disclosed that the Ministry was working on adding to the 40 already commissioned coastal guards to support policing of the highway. He said the guards would be sourced from communities along the road, with community leaders expected to nominate people who would be responsible for monitoring their respective areas. He said the arrangement was expected to be completed within two weeks.

The Federal Controller also disclosed that the government was moving against the parking of trailers, trucks and other articulated vehicles on the highway, warning that vehicles found parked on the road would be towed away.

According to him, the Federal Government had held meetings with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Tijani Fatai, over the security challenges on the road, with increased police deployment already commencing.

Dare also announced a ban on illegal U-turns created by road users, warning that those arrested would be prosecuted. He said motorcycles, tricycles and other forms of commercial transport were also prohibited on the highway. “Okada, keke and all manner of tricycles are completely banned on the coastal highway,” he said.

The Federal Government also raised concerns over illegal settlements, hawking, grazing and destitution along the road, with Dare warning that enforcement would be carried out against those activities. He said the government had identified not less than 10 illegal settlements along the coastal highway, adding that the settlements were being used as bases for criminal activities.

Dare also disclosed that the government had recorded arrests of motorcycle riders operating illegally on the highway, saying more than 100 Okada riders were arrested in the previous week. (The Sun)