FG threatens Lagos-Calabar highway closure over vandalism, safety violations
The Federal Government has warned that it could temporarily shut the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within two weeks if vandalism, reckless driving and other safety violations persist.
Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State Olufemi Dare issued the warning during an inspection of the corridor, saying the government would reassess compliance after the two-week period. The highway remains under construction even though sections have been opened to traffic.
Signs, fencing and drainage covers targeted
Officials say about 150 directional signs have been removed and roughly 5km of clear-view fencing vandalised along an inspected 18km stretch.
Separate reporting from the same inspection says about 18km of concrete drainage covers had also been removed. These figures come from government inspection accounts and are not independently audited damage estimates.
The government says repeated theft of fencing and other installations has forced it to consider replacing some metal barriers with block walls in vulnerable areas.
Crackdown extends beyond vandalism
Authorities also identified overspeeding, illegal U-turns, roadside trading, unauthorised truck parking, motorcycles and tricycles, animal grazing and illegal settlements as safety concerns.
Dare said motorcycles and tricycles are prohibited on the highway and disclosed that more than 100 motorcycle riders had been arrested in the previous week. He also warned that illegally parked trucks could be towed and motorists creating unauthorised U-turns prosecuted.
The government has not said that the entire highway is structurally unsafe or unusable. Its warning concerns ongoing construction, vandalism and behaviour officials say is creating risks for road users and workers.
Police deployment, CCTV considered
The Federal Ministry of Works says police deployment along the route is being increased following discussions with the Lagos State Police Command.
Officials are also considering CCTV surveillance and have approved the recruitment of 40 coastal guards for the first section of the highway, with personnel expected to work alongside police.
The NSCDC had separately called for multi-agency protection of the road after an inspection earlier this month covering the Okun-Ajah to Oniru corridor.
What happens next
The immediate test is whether vandalism and other violations decrease before the government’s two-week review.
Authorities will also need to show how quickly damaged safety installations are replaced, what repeated repairs are costing, whether additional policing reduces losses and whether the threatened closure is ultimately implemented.
For motorists, the practical consequence is the possibility of restricted access to the Lagos section if officials conclude that conditions have not improved.
