FIC REPORT (LAGOS STATE) – Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway may shutdown within two weeks due to persistent safety violations and vandalism.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, issued the warning on 21st September, 2026 during an inspection tour of the highway.
Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare said the decision followed a directive from the Minister of Works, David Umahi, amid persistent safety breaches, vandalism and other illegal activities along the road.
He furthered said, if there’s no improvement on all these issues mentioned within two weeks, there will be no option than to come back and shutdown this road.
The controller suggested federal government alternative in the Lekki-Epe Expressway, adding that the coastal highway was still under construction and should ordinarily not have been opened to traffic before the completion of its bridges
According to Lagos section of the coastal highway comprises two sections spanning about 103km, with Section 1 covering about 47km and Section 2 extending for about 56km.
There were 20 major bridges across the two sections in Lagos, with 10 in each section, several of which were still under construction.
It was observed that motorists driving at high speeds on a road where construction work was ongoing, despite the prescribed speed limit of 30km per hour.
People come to coastal road and get to a speed of 120 kilometres per hour on the coastal road, and where constructions are going on”
There is a caution that the speed on the coastal road must not be more than 30 kilometres per hour.” he said
lives were being lost on the highway “almost every other day”, warning that the government could no longer allow the situation to continue.
Vehicle operators were warned against parking along the highway, saying some trucks and trailers were being used as temporary parking spaces by drivers.
He said federal government had reached an agreement with the Lagos State Police Command to increase police deployment along the highway.
According to Dare, the increased security presence on the coastal highway followed meetings between Umahi and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Tijani.
He warned against illegal U-turns created along the highway, saying anyone arrested for the offence would be prosecuted.
Okada motorcycles, tricycles, hawking and animal grazing had also been banned along the highway.
He added that authorities would also move against people living in shanties and other illegal structures along the highway.
Dare identified vandalism of safety infrastructure as another major challenge, saying sections of the protective fencing and other installations were being removed at night.
He said at least five kilometres of ClearVu fencing had been removed, while about 18km of concrete covers had also been vandalised and taken away.
Government was considering replacing the steel ClearVu fencing with concrete barriers in vulnerable areas because the existing fencing could be easily removed by vandals.
He added that the government was also working on the deployment of CCTV cameras to improve surveillance along the route.
The controller said the government had approved the recruitment of 40 members of a coastal guard for the first section of the highway, with four expected to be drawn from each community along the route.
The guards would work directly with the police and provide community-level surveillance, while additional personnel would be recruited for Section 2.
Dare said some previously engaged coastal guards had been attacked by vandals, making stronger police protection necessary.
Authorities were planning to reorganise and train the coastal guards under the direct supervision of the Lagos State Police Command.
Sourced and reported by ;
Ojo Taiwo Israel
PIO/Public Relation
24/09/2026
