Nigeria threatens Lagos coastal highway shutdown in two weeks

The Federal Government has threatened to shut the Lagos section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway within two weeks if safety violations by motorists and other road users do not significantly improve. Olufemi Dare, the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, issued the ultimatum on Monday during an inspection of the highway, saying the decision followed a directive from the Minister of Works, David Umahi. "Within two weeks, if there's no improvement on all these issues, then we have no option than to come back and shut down this road," Dare said. Dare cited dangerous speeding, vandalism, illegal parking, unauthorised U-turns and other activities along the route. He said the approved speed limit is 30 kilometres per hour, particularly around construction zones, but that some motorists had been recorded driving at up to 120 kilometres per hour where bridge and other construction works were ongoing. He also said lives were being lost on the highway, without giving a figure. The Lagos section stretches about 103 kilometres and comprises two sections, with Section 1 covering approximately 47 kilometres and Section 2 about 56 kilometres.