Concerns as vandalism threatens Lagos-Calabar coastal highway

By Onu Okorie

Newly constructed Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway has come under threat following the emergence of pictures showing individuals allegedly vandalising the project and carting away construction materials.
The incident has raised concerns over the protection of the multi-billion-naira infrastructure project, coming only days after the Minister of Works, Senator David Nweze Umahi, inaugurated the Coastal Highway Guards in Lagos to strengthen security around the highway and other critical infrastructure along the route.
The Coastal Highway Guards were established as part of efforts to protect the strategic project from vandalism, theft and other activities capable of undermining its timely completion and long-term benefits.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway is one of the major infrastructure projects being undertaken by the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The highway is expected to improve connectivity along Nigeria’s coastline, stimulate economic activities, open up communities and facilitate the movement of people and goods across the coastal states.
The reported vandalism has, however, highlighted the challenge of protecting large-scale public infrastructure from criminal activities.
The removal of construction materials from a public project, apart from causing financial losses, could delay construction, increase project costs and expose road users and surrounding communities to safety risks.
The development has therefore renewed calls for greater collaboration between government, security agencies, contractors and host communities to protect critical infrastructure.
Stakeholders have stressed that the responsibility for safeguarding public infrastructure should not rest solely with government and security personnel, urging citizens to report suspicious activities around public projects.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway is regarded as a major component of the Federal Government’s infrastructure drive, with the Works Ministry under Umahi accelerating road construction and rehabilitation projects across the country.
The project is expected to provide improved transportation links, support commerce and create new economic opportunities for communities along the coastline.
The latest incident has consequently prompted calls for citizens to see public infrastructure as a collective asset rather than government property that can be abused or stolen.
As the Federal Government continues to invest heavily in roads and other critical infrastructure, Nigerians are being urged to protect projects in their communities and cooperate with security agencies to prevent vandalism.
Government, contractors, security agencies and citizens, stakeholders said, must work together to ensure that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Superhighway delivers its intended benefits.
The message is clear: public infrastructure is public property, and protecting it is a shared responsibility.