By Olusegun Precious Samuel
In a major step to safeguard key national infrastructure and guarantee the safety of commuters, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, has officially unveiled a dedicated security outfit named the Coastal Highway Guards.
The initial phase of the rollout sees the deployment of 40 pioneering officers assigned to secure the landmark Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
Operational Structure and Leadership
The specialized security unit will be headed by Retired General Adekunle Shodunke. Operating alongside existing state security agencies, the Guards will initially patrol the expansive coastal corridor using a fleet of motorcycles to ensure high mobility and rapid response capabilities.
Footage of the inauguration ceremony was shared online by Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Speaking at the launch, Minister Umahi emphasized that the unit’s primary mission is to provide safety and peace of mind to road users rather than project intimidation.
According to the Minister, the primary mandate of the Coastal Highway Guards includes, maintaining a visible presence along designated sections of the highway, monitoring government infrastructure to prevent and report acts of vandalism, identifying road hazards, suspicious activities, and emergency incidents and assisting stranded motorists and supporting statutory security and emergency services.
“They are the eyes and ears of the highway, and they will observe any damage to the infrastructure and report it to the appropriate authorities,” Umahi stated.
Community Collaboration Urged
Highlighting the importance of grassroots support, the Works Minister appealed to host communities along the highway corridor to embrace the newly deployed personnel as partners in progress and guardians of public assets.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway remains one of the Federal Government’s flagship infrastructure initiatives. The deployment of the Coastal Highway Guards is expected to mitigate vandalism, deter criminal activity, and build public confidence as construction and travel along the route progress.
