A multi-trillion-naira road project linking Lagos to the coastal corridor has come under a massive vandalism attack, with criminals allegedly carting away 1,800 manhole covers, destroying fences and removing road signs installed along the highway.
The Federal Government raised the alarm over the scale of destruction on the Lagos Coastal Road, warning that the activities of vandals were threatening one of the country’s biggest infrastructure projects.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, disclosed that the damage occurred between January and August 2026, with vandals targeting virtually every item that could be converted into scrap value.
According to him, the stolen manhole covers formed part of the underground drainage system constructed along the highway.
He explained that the vandals break the concrete covers before removing the iron reinforcements inside and abandoning the damaged structures.
“Between January and now, we have 1,800 of these manholes that have been stolen,” Dare said.
But the looting spree did not stop there.
The government official revealed that about 1,000 metres of clear-view fence installed on both sides of the highway had also been pulled down and taken away by criminals.
The fences were designed to separate surrounding communities from the road corridor and enhance safety along the route.
In another shocking revelation, Dare said about 75 directional signs mounted along the highway had also been cut down and stolen.
He described the situation as unacceptable, insisting that the government would not allow criminals to frustrate the huge investment committed to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
“We will not watch as these criminal elements come and disturb what the Federal Government is doing,” he said.
The Federal Controller praised the Lagos State Police Command for deploying personnel and vehicles to the area, adding that security agencies were working round the clock to arrest those behind the vandalism.
The disclosure comes amid growing concerns over the protection of major public infrastructure projects across the country, as authorities intensify efforts to clamp down on vandals.
