FG Decries Rising Vandalism of Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Others

• Approves expansion of Bodo–Bonny road, Akwanga–Maiduguri corridor

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

Minister of Works, David Umahi yesterday expressed deep concern over the increasing destruction of public infrastructure across the country, including the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway, warning that persistent vandalism poses a serious threat to the durability of Nigerian roads and bridges.

Umahi spoke at a press briefing in Abuja, where he described the trend as alarming and unsustainable, noting that the ministry was forced to address what he called deliberate acts of sabotage targeting key infrastructure assets.

According to him, the Lagos coastal highway has become a major hotspot for vandalism despite intensified security measures put in place to protect the corridor.

He added that protective facilities installed along the highway have been repeatedly damaged or stolen by vandals. “I want the public to go and see how the things we put in place to protect the coastal route are being destroyed. The green barbed wires installed in several sections are being cut and taken away,” he said.

The minister explained that ongoing construction works have also been disrupted by illegal access to restricted areas. “In Shagamu-wode, the width of the road is 12 metres, but only nine metres have been completed. There is a connecting bar we call wire bars, yet people cross it and damage the work,” he said.

Umahi also linked recent flooding along the coastal highway to blocked drainage channels, blaming indiscriminate waste disposal by residents. “The flooding occurred because underground channels were blocked with refuse. People dump their daily waste inside manholes. The public has a duty to protect public assets,” he said.

Umahi commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the use of reinforced concrete technology in road construction, which he said would significantly extend the lifespan of highways.

“The roads we are building now will last between 50 and 100 years, unlike many older roads that failed within 10 years,” he said.

He warned that the practice of parking heavy trucks on bridges could accelerate structural damage, noting that bridges are not designed to withstand static loads. The minister disclosed that serious structural concerns have been identified on major bridges in Lagos, including the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge, with experts recommending eventual demolition of Carter Bridge.

He said temporary measures are being implemented to keep the bridge functional for about three years pending reconstruction. Umahi attributed much of the damage to illegal sand mining around bridge foundations, explaining that many bridge piles depend on sand for stability.

“In one instance, an illegal miner struck and removed a bridge pile, and we have directed that the company involved be prosecuted,” he said.

He also listed other forms of vandalism, including the theft of electrical installations, expansion joints, and reinforced concrete barriers on major highways such as the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano road and the Second Niger Bridge in the South-east.

According to him, CCTV systems installed on the Third Mainland Bridge on the President’s directive have helped security agencies to track and arrest suspects involved in sabotage.

“It is common worldwide to install protective materials on bridges to reduce pressure, but people remove them to sell as scrap,” he lamented.

Umahi urged Nigerians to take collective responsibility for safeguarding public infrastructure, warning that repeated vandalism would continue to drain public resources and slow national development.

Also, the federal government has approved the expansion of two major highway projects, the Bodo–Bonny Road in Rivers State and the Akwanga–Jos–Gombe–Maiduguri corridor, in a move aimed at strengthening national connectivity and accelerating infrastructure development.

Umahi described them as part of President Bola Tinubu’s directive to scale up strategic road projects across the country. According to Umahi, the Bodo–Bonny Road will be extended by 8.7 kilometres with reinforced concrete pavement up to the East–West Road.

“Yesterday, the president directed that the Ministry of Works should extend the Bodo–Bonny Road by 8.7 kilometres using reinforced concrete up to the East–West Road,” the minister said.

He noted that the project would significantly improve access to coastal communities in Rivers State and stimulate economic activities in the South-South region. Umahi said the decision reflects the administration’s determination to complete inherited projects and broaden their scope where necessary.

“The President did not abandon any inherited project. He ordered the continuation of all ongoing projects and approved extensions where they are critical to national development,” he said.

On the Akwanga–Jos–Gombe route, Umahi disclosed that the President had also approved the extension of the corridor to Maiduguri, describing it as a key component of the administration’s flagship infrastructure agenda.

He explained that the dual approach was designed to accelerate delivery and address long-standing infrastructure gaps across the North-Central and North-East regions. Umahi said the government’s infrastructure strategy prioritises durability and cost efficiency, stressing that reinforced concrete technology has been adopted to ensure long-lasting roads.