umahi
Olayiwola Mercy
The Federal Government has raised an alarm over vandalism on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, citing it as the main cause of recent flooding on the road. The vandalism involves the removal of manhole covers, which are then sold for scrap, and the dumping of refuse into the drainage system, blocking it and causing water to accumulate on the road.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr. Olufemi Dare, stated that the highway’s underground drainage system, equipped with 1.2m diameter pipes, is designed to handle stormwater, but vandalism and refuse dumping have compromised its functionality. He emphasized that the flooding is not due to construction errors, but rather man-made activities.
The vandalism is widespread, with manhole covers removed from Eko Atlantic through the entire stretch of the road. About 50 steel sections of the see-through fence have been stolen, and seven steel traffic signs have been removed. The Federal Government is working to address the issue, with security agencies intensifying operations in the area .
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, described the vandalism as “alarming and unsustainable,” warning that it threatens the durability of newly constructed federal roads and bridges. He commended the Lagos State Government and the police for deploying personnel to check vandalism and urged Nigerians to protect government assets .
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a major investment by the Federal Government, and efforts are being made to protect it. The road is currently under construction and was temporarily opened in December to ease traffic during the Yuletide season.
Commercial motorcycling remains banned on the highway, and vehicles driving against traffic will be arrested. The Federal Government has also announced that the annual Access Bank Marathon will hold on the Coastal Highway on Saturday, and the road will be closed to traffic from midnight on Friday until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Minister of Works has directed that CCTV cameras be installed on federal highways to track and arrest vandals. The installation of CCTV cameras on the Third Mainland Bridge has already helped security agencies catch vandals.
The Federal Government is urging Nigerians to take collective responsibility for safeguarding public infrastructure, warning that repeated vandalism will drain public resources and slow national development.
