The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has condemned the vandalism of road infrastructure across the country, describing the destruction of public assets as “devilish”, “wicked” and unacceptable.
Umahi spoke on Sunday during a press conference and stakeholders’ engagement on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, where he also flagged off repair works on the Eko Bridge and Marine Bridge in Lagos.
The minister urged Nigerians to join the government in protecting public infrastructure, noting that the President, ministers and governors could not be everywhere to monitor national assets.
“It is very disheartening to know that these people, the efforts they are putting in to destroy national assets, if they put it on labour work in Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, if they put it in all the construction sites of the state government and Federal Government, they will put in less effort, and they will make more money,” he said.
“So, it’s devilish, it’s wickedness, and it’s unacceptable. The President cannot be everywhere; he is not a spirit. The minister cannot be everywhere; governors cannot be everywhere, so we have to come together to protect our national assets.”
Umahi said vandalism could undermine the benefits of major road projects and force the government to spend additional resources repairing infrastructure that should have served communities for decades.
“When these roads are built under the President, they will last for 100 years. But when the roads are excavated and removed, we will be back to square one, and God will not allow it,” he added.
His comments came against the backdrop of the recent vandalism of sections of the newly constructed Festac-Alakija Bridge in Lagos.
Suspected scavengers reportedly broke into parts of the structure in an attempt to remove embedded iron rods and other metal components.
The Lagos State Government has since arrested 27 suspects in connection with the incident following a joint operation by security and enforcement agencies.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who inspected the affected sections of the bridge on Saturday alongside engineers and contractors, assured residents that the bridge remained safe, structurally sound and open to traffic.
The governor also ordered immediate reinforcement and repairs, while warning that those involved in the vandalism, as well as buyers of stolen government property, would face the full force of the law.
Umahi Orders Crackdown On Illegal Activities
The Works Minister also expressed concern over activities along sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, particularly the removal of construction materials and illegal occupation of the highway.
“We have had very terrible, unpatriotic elements removing the blocks, breaking the fence, removing the rods and treading on the highway. This must stop,” Umahi said.
He directed the Works Controller in Lagos to ensure that motorcycles, tricycles, hawkers and other unauthorised activities were kept off the coastal highway.
“Their job is that no keke on the coastal highway, no motorcycle on the coastal highway, and no loitering. There is no superhighway all over the country where you see people loitering,” he said.
Umahi said he visited the coastal highway with members of the National Assembly at about 11pm and found people sleeping on sections of the road.
“Last night, we were there with the National Assembly members by 11 pm; people were sleeping on the coastal highway. It must stop. No hawking, no occupation illegally along the entire coast,” he said.
The minister also called on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to strengthen its protection of strategic national infrastructure.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Works had opened its ongoing projects to scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies as part of efforts to promote transparency and accountability.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is a 750-kilometre, 10-lane highway being developed to connect Lagos to Cross River, passing through Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states before terminating in Cross River.
The project is being undertaken by Hitech Construction Company Limited under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Works.
The Federal Government has described the coastal highway as a major infrastructure project aimed at improving transportation, reducing pressure on existing road networks and opening up economic opportunities along the coastal corridor.