Coastal Highway: Umahi Decries Vandalism, 105km Pavement Set for Completion

Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced that the main pavement of the first 105 kilometers of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will be completed by November 2026, despite vandalism along the project corridor. Umahi expressed shock at the destruction of infrastructure in the Apapa axis of the highway, where structural elements have been damaged and heavy-duty vehicles have used spaces around the bridge.

He condemned the cutting of metals and destruction of block works, stating that such actions cannot be justified as development. The minister emphasized the importance of protecting public infrastructure, as vandalism undercuts the benefits of government investments in major projects. NANS, a Nigerian students' body, presented its findings from the Northwest leg of its inspection of federal road projects, highlighting the need for a pedestrian bridge at the Federal Co-operative College in Kaduna.

The association commended the reconstruction of the Mando-Birnin Gwari Federal Highway and the Kano Northern Bypass, which connects 10 tertiary institutions in the region. The Lagos section of the coastal highway, spanning 103 kilometers, is currently under construction with 10 bridges still in progress. Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, warned motorists and other road users that the highway could be shut down if safety regulations are not complied with within two weeks.