The federal government, on Saturday, handed over three patrol vehicles to the Nigeria Police Force to strengthen security and curb vandalism on Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.

The vehicles were presented by the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Olufemi Dare, to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 2, Olohundare Jimoh.

Zone 2 of the Nigeria Police Force covers Lagos and Ogun States.

Mr Dare said the gesture was in response to increasing cases of theft of steel fences and other materials installed on the highway.

He said the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, was concerned about the activities of vandals on the highway and had directed the procurement of additional patrol vehicles to secure the road.

“We have had several meetings with the police on the need to strengthen security on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, particularly Section One.

“The honourable minister is pained by reports of theft of steel fences and other construction materials on the road.

“That is why we are handing over these three patrol vehicles to support police operations and ensure that activities of vandals are brought to a halt,” Mr Dare said.

He expressed confidence that the vehicles would be deployed effectively to protect the infrastructure.

Receiving the vehicles, Mr Jimoh commended Umahi for his continued support for the police in safeguarding federal infrastructure.

He recalled that the Federal Ministry of Works had donated two specially modified patrol vehicles and a surveillance control centre for monitoring the Third Mainland Bridge.

“This is not the first time the honourable minister has supported the police.

“Late last year, he provided two patrol vehicles and a multimillion-naira surveillance centre for the Third Mainland Bridge.

“Today, he has provided an additional three vehicles to strengthen security along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as construction extends beyond Lagos into Ogun and other states,” he said.

Mr Jimoh said the vehicles would be operated by the Zone 2 Headquarters to ensure seamless policing across state boundaries as work progresses on the coastal road.

He said that while he was Commissioner of Police in Lagos, more than 30 patrol teams were deployed on the corridor, with the Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu providing four vehicles.

He said the security measures had yielded positive results, with no reported cases of robbery or car snatching on the road since it was opened to traffic in December 2025.

He added that the rate of vandalism had dropped significantly, with no reported cases in the last three weeks.

According to him, more than 25 suspects arrested for vandalising road infrastructure had been charged to court and remanded.

“We want to warn anyone intending to make money through vandalism that we are after them,” he said.

Mr Jimoh assured road users that the highway was safe but cautioned motorists against overspeeding.

He said the speed limit on the corridor remained 30km per hour and warned that violators would be arrested and prosecuted.

“These vehicles will not only provide security but also enforce safety.

“Anyone who exceeds the speed limit will be apprehended because the safety of all road users matters,” he said. 

(NAN)