By Sunday Ameh
The Federal Government has threatened to shut the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road within two weeks if motorists continue to violate speed limits, while vandalism, truck parking and other illegal activities persist along the route.
Olufemi Dare, Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, issued the warning during a news briefing on Monday at the Lagos section of the highway.
Dare said the government had observed what he described as “ugly developments” on the section stretching from the Ahmadu Bello Way intersection in Victoria Island to the Eleko Junction.
According to him, some motorists have abused the government’s decision to open Section 1 of the coastal highway to traffic despite ongoing construction work.
He said some drivers were driving at speeds of up to 120km per hour on the road, despite a 30km per hour speed limit.
“Within two weeks, if there’s no improvement, His Excellency, referring to the Minister of Works, has directed that we are coming back to shut down the road,” Dare said.
He warned that lives were being lost on the highway as a result of speeding, stressing that construction activities were still ongoing.
The federal controller also disclosed that some articulated truck drivers had been parking their vehicles on the highway for several days and using them as overnight accommodation.
Consequently, the government announced a ban on speeding, hawking, truck parking, as well as the use of motorcycles and tricycles along the coastal road.
On vandalism, Dare said manhole covers across an 18-kilometre stretch had been removed, while about five kilometres of clear-view fencing had also been stolen.
“Manhole covers in 18 kilometres were completely packed away. Because there was reinforcement in the covers, they broke the concrete and they removed the iron that is in it,” he said.
Dare warned that the government would also intensify enforcement against illegal settlements, trading and animal grazing along the highway.
The Federal Ministry of Works had earlier banned commercial motorcycles and tricycles from operating on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road.
The government’s latest warning comes amid concerns over the misuse and vandalism of infrastructure on the newly opened section of the highway.
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