The Federal Government has issued a stern warning against vandalism on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, declaring that offenders will be arrested and prosecuted.
Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, gave the warning during an inspection of the highway project in Lagos.
Umahi condemned acts including the cutting of metal fences, opening of manholes and dumping of refuse along the corridor, describing them as unacceptable and harmful to national infrastructure.
The minister said anyone caught vandalising government property would be charged to court immediately, adding that a seven-member team of Senior Advocates of Nigeria had been assembled to handle litigation concerning the project.
He disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Works would support the Nigeria Police Force with fuel and allowances to strengthen patrol operations on the route.
Umahi commended the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and the Inspector-General of Police for deploying patrol vehicles to secure the project.
The minister attributed flooding observed on parts of the highway to refuse dumped into drainage systems after vandals opened manholes.
He said temporary measures would be introduced to seal the manholes and prevent further abuse.
Appealing to residents, Umahi urged communities to take ownership of the project and safeguard public assets.
“We are doing everything possible to deliver quality work. We may not be perfect, but we are giving our best engineering effort on this project,” he said.
The minister also called on Nigerians to support President Bola Tinubu, stating that the administration remains committed to rebuilding critical infrastructure nationwide.
According to him, economic indicators show signs of recovery, citing relative naira stability, foreign reserves of about $49 billion and inflation reduction to around 15 percent.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is considered one of the Federal Government’s flagship infrastructure projects aimed at boosting connectivity and economic growth along Nigeria’s southern corridor.
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