Nigerian Govt unveils guards to protect Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

The Nigerian government has established the Coastal Highway Guards to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from vandalism, illegal occupation, and unauthorized activities. The initiative, announced by Works Minister David Umahi, involves an initial deployment of 40 personnel, according to a statement from the Lagos State Governor's Senior Special Assistant on New Media, Jubril Gawat.

The guards' responsibilities include maintaining visibility along the highway, monitoring suspicious activities, preventing hawking, reporting vandalism, restricting the use of motorcycles and tricycles, and discouraging loitering. The initiative, coordinated by retired General Adekunle Shodunke, is a full-time employment arrangement focused on safeguarding national assets in alignment with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's Renewed Hope agenda.

Umahi addressed concerns over construction materials being removed and areas of the highway being occupied for non-project-related activities. He ordered the removal of motorcycles, tricycles, hawkers, and unauthorized activities from the highway, emphasizing the need for no loitering or hawking along the coastal road. The minister also encouraged the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to intensify efforts to protect critical national infrastructure and opened the Works Ministry's ongoing projects to scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies for transparency and accountability.