FG Threatens Lagos Coastal Highway Shutdown Over Safety Breaches

The Federal Government has threatened to shut down the Lagos Coastal Highway within two weeks if motorists and other road users fail to comply with safety regulations and other directives aimed at curbing dangerous activities along the route.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, issued the warning on Monday during an inspection of the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, citing persistent safety violations, vandalism and other illegal activities.

Dare said the directive followed concerns raised by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, with the ministry prepared to return and close the highway if there was no significant improvement within the two-week period.

The controller identified overspeeding as one of the major safety concerns, noting that some motorists were driving at speeds of up to 120km/h despite the 30km/h speed limit displayed along the highway.

He stressed that the road remained under construction, particularly around bridge sections, making strict adherence to the speed limit necessary to protect motorists, construction workers and other road users.

Dare also warned truck and articulated vehicle operators against parking on the highway, saying the practice was creating additional safety risks. Authorities are expected to tow vehicles found parked illegally along the route.

Illegal U-turns are also prohibited, while commercial motorcycles and tricycles have been banned from using the coastal highway. The government further announced measures against roadside trading, hawking, animal grazing and illegal settlements along the route.

The government’s concerns extend beyond traffic violations. Dare disclosed that about five kilometres of ClearVu fencing had been removed, while concrete drainage covers covering approximately 18 kilometres had reportedly been vandalised and taken away.

He said the authorities were considering replacing vulnerable sections of the fencing with concrete barriers and deploying CCTV cameras to strengthen surveillance along the highway.

To improve security, the government has also approved the recruitment of 40 coastal guards for the first section of the highway. The guards are expected to be drawn from communities along the route and work with the police to provide additional surveillance.

The Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway covers about 103 kilometres, divided into two sections of approximately 47 kilometres and 56 kilometres. Several major bridges remain under construction across the two sections.

Dare said the highway should ordinarily not have been opened to traffic before completion of the bridges, but its use has continued as an alternative route for motorists.

The government has therefore urged motorists, residents and other users of the highway to comply with the prescribed speed limit and other regulations, warning that enforcement would be intensified.

The proposed shutdown would affect the Lagos section of the coastal highway if the authorities determine that safety conditions have not improved within the stipulated two weeks.