The Federal Government has raised fresh alarm over what it described as escalating vandalism and illegal mining activities threatening critical national infrastructure, with the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway and major Lagos bridges now under severe pressure.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja, warning that the persistent destruction of public assets has become “alarming and unsustainable.”
According to Umahi, the Ministry of Works is engaged in a “daily fight” to protect federal roads and bridges from sabotage, revealing that protective installations along sections of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway have been repeatedly vandalised despite increased security presence.
“The fence we have put up to protect the coastal roads is being destroyed by people. The green barbed wire we put to expose the beauty of the coastal roads in a number of sections is being cut and taken by people”, the minister said, adding that vital construction components, including connecting rods known as dowel bars, have also been removed by vandals, disrupting ongoing work and driving up costs.
Citing a section of the project in Shagamu, Umahi explained that although nine metres of the 12-metre-wide road had been completed, unauthorised access into restricted construction zones was worsening the damage.
“The width of our road is 12 metres, and nine metres have been completed. There are connecting wire bars and protective coverings. Yet people go there, cross into the restricted areas and damage the work”, he said.
The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to stretch about 700 kilometres from Lagos to Calabar, is one of the Federal Government’s flagship projects aimed at boosting trade, tourism and regional connectivity. However, the Lagos phase has faced challenges ranging from right-of-way disputes to environmental concerns.
Umahi also linked recent flooding along parts of the coastal corridor to indiscriminate dumping of refuse into underground drainage systems.
“The flooding of the coastal highway was because our underground drainage channels were blocked. People dump refuse inside the manholes and underground channels. When those channels are blocked, water has nowhere to go”, he said, adding that similar practices were responsible for flooding in many parts of Lagos.
He urged Nigerians to see the protection of public infrastructure as a collective responsibility.
“The public has a duty to protect public assets. We are doing everything possible to ensure the coastal highway is free and functional, but citizens must also play their part”, the minister said.
Umahi raised serious concerns about the condition of major bridges in Lagos, including Carter Bridge and Third Mainland Bridge. He revealed that expert investigations and stakeholder consultations had identified severe structural problems with Carter Bridge, with recommendations pointing towards eventual demolition.
“To the extent that, through investigations and stakeholders’ meetings, experts have said Carter Bridge has to be demolished. But we are doing everything possible to strengthen it so that we can use it for the next three years pending reconstruction”, he said.
The minister attributed much of the damage to illegal sand mining around bridge foundations, explaining that many bridge piles depend on surrounding sand for stability. In one instance, he said, a miner struck and removed a bridge pile, adding that the company involved has been directed to face prosecution. He also cited the theft of expansion joints on bridges, reinforced concrete barriers along major highways, and electrical fittings on flyovers nationwide, noting that such components are often sold as scrap metal, weakening structural integrity.
Umahi credited the installation of Closed-Circuit Television cameras on the Third Mainland Bridge—implemented on the directive of President Bola Tinubu—with aiding security agencies in apprehending vandals.
“It was very easy for the police to catch the vandals because of the CCTV installed there”, he stated.
The Minister further warned against parking heavy-duty trucks on bridges, stressing that roads and bridges are not designed to withstand prolonged static loads.
“Roads and bridges are never designed for static loads. When you allow heavy trucks and vehicles to be parked on bridges, you are asking for trouble”, he cautioned.
Reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to durable infrastructure, Umahi said the adoption of reinforced concrete technology would significantly extend the lifespan of new projects.
“The roads we are building now will last between 50 and 100 years, unlike many older roads that failed within 10 years”, he added.
Umahi called for nationwide vigilance, warning that unchecked vandalism and illegal mining would continue to drain public resources and slow national development if left unaddressed.
