Dave Umahi Launches Coastal Highway Guards to Protect Nigeria’s Landmark Road Project

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has launched the Coastal Highway Guards, a 40-member security and monitoring team tasked with protecting the newly developed coastal highway and other government infrastructure along the route.

The initiative is aimed at preventing activities that could undermine the safety, functionality and long-term sustainability of the highway.

The team, led by retired General Adekunle Shodunke, will monitor the highway and respond to activities including vandalism, hawking, loitering and the unauthorised use of tricycles (keke) and motorcycles (okada) along designated sections of the road.

The guards are also expected to work closely with relevant security agencies to strengthen surveillance and ensure that government infrastructure is adequately protected.

The creation of the Coastal Highway Guards comes as the Federal Government continues efforts to develop and safeguard the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, one of Nigeria’s major ongoing transport infrastructure projects.

Beyond protecting the physical road infrastructure, the new monitoring structure is expected to help maintain orderly use of the highway, discourage activities that could compromise road safety and ensure that the investment in the project is preserved.

With the initial deployment of 40 officers, the Federal Government appears to be adopting a dedicated monitoring approach rather than relying solely on conventional security agencies to protect the highway.

The effectiveness of the initiative, however, will depend on sustained coordination between the guards, the police, other security agencies, road management authorities and affected communities along the coastal corridor.

If properly implemented, the Coastal Highway Guards could become an important component of the Federal Government’s broader strategy to protect critical infrastructure and ensure that the coastal highway delivers its intended economic and transportation benefits to Nigerians.