The Federal Government has issued a two-week ultimatum to motorists and other road users on the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, warning that the route will be closed if safety violations and illegal activities persist.
Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, delivered the warning at a press briefing, citing dangerous speeding, vandalism, illegal parking and other breaches that have led to repeated fatalities on the highway.
Dare said Works Minister David Umahi had ordered the ministry to return and shut the road if there was no significant improvement within two weeks.
“In another two weeks, if there’s no improvement, His Excellency has directed that we are coming back to shut down the road,” Dare said.
Government said they can no longer tolerate overspeeding, illegal parking by trucks and articulated vehicles, unauthorised U-turns, motorcycles and tricycles, roadside trading and other activities that endanger users and damage infrastructure.
He said trucks and articulated vehicles parked on the highway will be towed, while illegal U-turns will be removed and offenders prosecuted.
Dare expressed concern that motorists were driving at speeds as high as 120km/h on sections where construction activities were ongoing, despite a posted 30km/h speed limit.
“We have said your speed on the coastal road must not be more than 30km/h”, the controller added.
“It is well written everywhere. But people will come here and go at 100km/h. This cannot continue,” he said.
The Controller said lives were being lost on the coastal road “almost every other day,” underscoring the urgency of compliance.
In January, Umahi told Channels TV that the federal government might shut the highway if safety issues were not addressed, noting a construction worker’s death at Section One.
He disclosed the ministry had considered closing the road in December but was directed by President Bola Tinubu to keep it open to ease traffic flow.
Dare confirmed a total ban on motorcycles and tricycles, including commercial motorcycles (Okada) and keke Marwa, on the coastal highway.
He disclosed that more than 100 ‘okada’ riders were arrested on the road the previous week.
Beyond traffic violations, the government announced a crackdown on illegal settlements, hawking and animal grazing along the highway.
No fewer than 10 illegal settlements had been identified and would be removed, while CCTV cameras were being considered to strengthen surveillance.
Dare raised concerns over the vandalisation of infrastructure along the highway, disclosing that about five kilometres of clear-view fencing had been removed, while concrete drainage covers covering about 18km had also been vandalised and taken away.
“You install it today, in less than one week it’s gone. It means we have to change the strategy,” he said, adding that the ministry was considering replacing clear-view fencing with block walls in areas where vandalism was persistent.
To strengthen security, the government has approved 40 coastal guards for the first section of the highway, with members expected to be nominated by communities along the route and work with the police.
Dare said the government would complete the recruitment and deployment of the guards within two weeks.
Dare warned truck operators using the Gypsy Port area as a parking space that the government would deploy a joint task force to clear the vehicles this week.
“We don’t want that place to be turned into another apartment. We are going there this week with the task force and flush all those trucks away,” he said.
The Controler said the road itself was 100% completed in the first section, while bridge construction remained ongoing.
He added that the project was still within its three-year contract period and expressed confidence that the outstanding works would be completed within schedule.
Dare urged Lagos residents, motorists and other highway users to comply with the new directives, warning that the government would intensify enforcement.
“It’s not going to be business as usual,” he said.
