Umahi decries vandalism on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway

Minister of Works, David Umahi, has decried acts of vandalism along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway corridor, warning that offenders will be prosecuted.

He, however, assured that Section One of the road will be ready for commissioning by May this year.

Umahi gave the assurance on Saturday during an inspection of the project, a flagship infrastructure initiative of the administration of President Bola Tinubu linking Lagos to the South-South and South-East regions.

The minister said a three-kilometre stretch under inspection was nearing completion, with sub-filling expected to be concluded within days.

According to him, once opened, motorists will be able to drive seamlessly from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos through Lekki, with access extending towards the Dangote Refinery axis as work progresses on Section Two.

He expressed confidence that Section One would be commissioned by 20 May, subject to the outcome of consolidation tests scheduled for March.

Umahi explained that engineers encountered deep soil conditions, with pits reaching between 18 and 22 metres in some sections, posing significant technical challenges.

He said similar conditions at chainage 18 had previously required six months of exposure to rainfall and the use of a stone base and sharp sand to achieve consolidation.

“For this section, we will conduct consolidation tests in March. If satisfactory, we will lay the Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) in April and commission it by May 20,” he said.

The minister commended HITECH Construction Company for absorbing additional costs arising from unexpected soil conditions without seeking an upward review of the contract sum.

Umahi, however, condemned the cutting of metal fences and the dumping of refuse into drainage manholes along the corridor, describing the acts as dangerous and unacceptable.

“It is wrong for anyone to cut the metal fence or open manholes to dump refuse. These actions endanger lives and damage public infrastructure,” he said.

He said security agencies had been directed to arrest and prosecute offenders, adding that a team of senior lawyers has been constituted to handle litigation related to the project.

The minister also said steps were being considered to temporarily seal manholes to prevent easy access.

Beyond the highway project, Umahi linked the pace of work to the broader reform agenda of the Tinubu administration, saying infrastructure delivery remains central to national development.

He said Section Two of the coastal highway is expected to be delivered before the end of the year, while bridges across both sections are projected for completion by April next year.

The minister also warned contractors against misusing Advance Payment Guarantees (APGs), stating that firms that have collected mobilisation funds without returning to the site will no longer be accommodated.

“My directive is clear: any contractor holding government funds must return to the site. Certificates will not be paid while such funds are outstanding,” he said.

Umahi decried vandalism on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway nationwide, urging Nigerians to support ongoing reforms and protect public assets.