The Federal Government has warned that it would close the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within two weeks if motorists and other road users fail to comply with safety measures and conditions along the route do not improve.
The warning was issued by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, on Monday while addressing journalists during an inspection tour of the highway.
According to him, the decision followed a directive from the Minister of Works, David Umahi, amid persistent safety breaches, vandalism and other illegal activities along the road.
“Within two weeks, if there’s no improvement on all these issues, then we have no option but to come back and shut down this road,” he said.
Dare further stated that the government had an alternative in the Lekki-Epe Expressway, adding that the coastal highway was still under construction and should ordinarily not have been opened to traffic before the completion of its bridges.
The Lagos section of the coastal highway comprises two sections spanning about 103km, with Section 1 covering about 47km and Section 2 extending for about 56km.
Dare said there were 20 major bridges across the two sections in Lagos, with 10 in each section, several of which were still under construction.
Nigerian govt threatens to shut Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, gives reason