The Federal Government has condemned acts of vandalism along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, warning that offenders will face immediate prosecution.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, issued the warning during an inspection of the project in Lagos. He decried the cutting of metal fences, the opening of manholes, and the dumping of refuse on sections of the highway, describing the acts as unacceptable.
Umahi expressed appreciation to the Nigeria Police Force, including the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police, for deploying patrol vehicles to safeguard the project. He assured that the Federal Ministry of Works would provide fuel and allowances to enhance security patrols along the corridor.
“Anyone caught vandalising government property should be charged to court immediately,” the minister said, adding that a seven-member Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) team has been constituted to handle any litigation related to the project.
He noted that temporary measures would be introduced to seal exposed manholes to prevent misuse, while attributing flooding observed on parts of the highway to refuse dumped in drainage channels rather than construction defects.
The minister appealed to residents to take ownership of the project and protect public infrastructure, stressing that the government remains committed to delivering quality work.
Umahi also called on Nigerians to support the administration of Bola Tinubu, stating that key economic indicators point to gradual recovery. According to him, improvements in naira stability, foreign reserves estimated at about $49 billion, and a reduction in inflation to around 15 per cent reflect positive economic progress.
He urged citizens to remain united and back ongoing efforts to rebuild critical infrastructure nationwide.
