By Sandra Kenneth
The Federal Government has announced a total ban on illegal shanties, street hawking, truck parking, unauthorized U-turns, animal grazing, motorcycles, and tricycles along the newly opened Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in a decisive move to protect road infrastructure and enforce safety.
Addressing journalists during a press briefing in Lagos, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Olufemi Dare, warned that the government would enforce zero tolerance for infractions, giving road users a two-week window to comply before strict enforcement begins.
Dare disclosed that Minister of Works Dave Umahi has directed that the highway could be temporarily shut down if public violations and disregard for safety regulations persist along the corridor.
“No Okada, is completely banned. No Keke Marwa is completely banned. Tricycles, all manner of tricycles, they are banned on the coastal highway,” Dare declared, adding that heavy-duty trucks found parked along the route will be clamped, towed, and impounded.
Beyond traffic violations, federal authorities raised alarm over widespread vandalization, revealing that thieves have stolen approximately five kilometers of clear-view fencing and manhole covers spanning an 18-kilometer stretch. To combat theft and criminal activity around illegal settlements, such as those identified in the Marwa axis, the government plans to replace damaged fencing with concrete blockwork, install CCTV cameras, and deploy 40 specialized coastal guards.
The government also cautioned drivers against reckless speeding, emphasizing that the mandatory speed limit remains 30 km/h due to ongoing construction and major bridge projects, despite reports of motorists driving at speeds exceeding 100 km/h.
To ensure seamless enforcement, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Fatai Oladipo, has directed Divisional Police Officers along the route to step up patrols, with security forces having already impounded over 100 non-compliant motorcycles over the past week.
