Federal Government Warns It May Close Lagos Section of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway Within Two Weeks

The Federal Government has warned that it will close the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within two weeks if motorists and other road users do not comply with safety measures and conditions along the route fail to improve. Olufemi Dare, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, made this known on Monday, September 21, while addressing journalists during an inspection tour of the highway. He said the decision came after a directive from the Minister of Works, David Umahi, due to persistent safety breaches, vandalism and other illegal activities along the road. He said the government would no longer tolerate overspeeding, illegal parking by trucks and articulated vehicles, illegal U-turns, motorcycles and tricycles, roadside trading and other activities capable of endangering road users and damaging infrastructure. He expressed concern that motorists were driving as fast as 120km/h in sections where construction work was ongoing, despite the 30km/h speed limit displayed along the highway. Dare noted that lives were being lost on the highway because of the many traffic violations. He said the speed limit on the coastal road is 30km/h and that it is written everywhere, but some people still drive at 100km/h. He said this cannot continue because lives are lost on the coastal road almost every other day. He added that if there is no improvement on all the issues within two weeks, the government would have no option but to return and shut down the road.