The federal government has threatened to close the Lagos-Calabar highway in two weeks if vandalism, speeding, and parking of trucks persist on the route.
Speaking at a news briefing at the Lagos section of the road on Monday, Olufemi Dare, the federal controller of works in Lagos, said the federal government has noticed “ugly developments” on the stretch of the road that runs from Ahmadu Bello Way intersection in Victoria Island to the Eleko junction.
Dare said some motorists are abusing the decision of the federal government to open Section 1 of the highway to traffic.
The federal controller said despite ongoing works, some drivers cruise at speeds averaging 120km per hour.
Dare said due to speed violations, many lives are being lost on a daily basis.
He added that some articulated truck drivers now park their vehicles on the road for several days, while passing the night on the highway.
“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,” he said.
“Let me say this categorically: construction is ongoing on this road. Ordinarily, we ought not to have opened it until all the bridges are completed.
“But we have a situation whereby people would come to Coastal Road and drive at a speed of 120 km/h, where construction is going on.
“Now, we have said your speed on the Coastal Road must not be more than 30 km/h. We’ve all seen it. You’ve seen it, it is well written everywhere.
“Let me say this: lives are being lost on the Coastal Road almost every other day. We are here, and we can see it.”
The federal controller announced a ban on speeding, hawking, parking of trucks, and the use of motorcycles and tricycles along the Coastal Road.
Speaking on vandalism, Dare said multiple manhole covers and clean view fences stretching 5 kilometres have 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.
“For the clear-view fence, the report I got, we have not less than 5 kilometres of that that has been removed. All of this must immediately stop.”
He added that the federal government will crack down on illegal settlements, trading and animal grazing on the highway.
In June, TheCable reported that illegal settlements have sprung up along the new road, with some residents trading in illicit drugs including marijuana, cocaine, and methamphetamine, from within shanties.
On June 29, the federal ministry of works banned commercial motorcycles and tricycles from operating on the road.
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