FG Deploys Special Guards to Secure Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The Federal Government has deployed a special security team, known as the Coastal Highway Guards, to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from vandalism, illegal occupation and other unauthorised activities.

The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, inaugurated the security team on Sunday, with an initial deployment of 40 officers.

The team will be led by retired General Adekunle Shodunke and will work alongside other security agencies in Lagos State.

According to the government, the guards will maintain a constant security presence along the highway, monitor and report suspicious activities and vandalism, and prevent hawking, loitering, and the use of motorcycles and tricycles on the road.

The 750-kilometre, 10-lane Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to connect Lagos with Cross River State through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states.

The project is being constructed by Hitech Construction Company Limited under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works.

Umahi expressed concern over the destruction and removal of construction materials along the highway, including blocks, fencing materials and reinforcement rods.

He said the government would no longer tolerate activities that could undermine the project or compromise the security of the national asset.

The minister also directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos to ensure that motorcycles, tricycles, hawkers and other unauthorised users were removed from the coastal highway.

He disclosed that during a late-night inspection of the project with members of the National Assembly, some people were found sleeping on sections of the highway.

Umahi stressed that the highway must remain free from illegal occupation, hawking and other activities that could obstruct construction and endanger road users.

He also called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to strengthen the protection of strategic national infrastructure.

The Minister further disclosed that the Ministry of Works had opened its ongoing projects to scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability.

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