The Federal Government has introduced the Coastal Highway Guards to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from vandalism, illegal occupation and other unauthorised activities.

The initiative was launched by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, with an initial deployment of 40 officers, according to a statement issued on Sunday by Jubril Gawat, Senior Special Assistant on New Media to the Lagos State Governor.

Gawat disclosed the development in a post on his X handle, saying the guards would maintain a constant presence along the highway and monitor activities that could threaten government infrastructure.

The officers are expected to report suspicious activities, monitor and report vandalism, and prevent hawking, loitering and other unauthorised activities along the highway.

They will also restrict the use of motorcycles and tricycles on the coastal highway as part of measures to protect the road infrastructure.

Gawat said the team would be headed by retired Gen. Adekunle Shodunke and would operate in collaboration with security agencies in Lagos State.

Umahi reportedly clarified that the initiative was not designed as an empowerment scheme but as a full-time employment arrangement focused on protecting government assets.

According to him, the guards were being deployed in line with the Federal Government’s commitment to protecting critical national infrastructure under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

The minister had earlier raised concerns about the activities of individuals along some sections of the coastal highway, particularly the alleged removal of construction materials and illegal occupation of the project corridor.

Umahi said some individuals had allegedly removed blocks, damaged fencing and taken construction rods from sections 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,” he said.

He directed the Works Controller in Lagos to ensure that motorcycles, tricycles, hawkers and other unauthorised activities were removed from the highway.

Umahi said the guards would specifically ensure that motorcycles and tricycles were kept off the road while also preventing hawking, loitering and illegal occupation.

He expressed concern over the presence of people sleeping along the highway, saying such activities were inappropriate for a major road project.

The minister disclosed that he had visited the area with members of the National Assembly at about 11 p.m. and found people sleeping on sections of the coastal highway.

He stressed that hawking and unauthorised occupation would not be permitted anywhere along the coastal route.

The Federal Government is expected to use the new security arrangement to strengthen surveillance along the project corridor and reduce damage, theft and other activities capable of undermining the development of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.