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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