The Federal Government has banned the operation of commercial motorcycles and tricycles on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as part of new measures aimed at protecting the multi-billion-naira road project from damage and ensuring its long-term sustainability.
The Federal Ministry of Works announced the restriction on Sunday, saying the ban will take effect this week.
The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Olufemi Dare, who disclosed the decision, said the move became necessary to preserve the integrity of the newly constructed highway and prevent activities that could lead to its early deterioration.
According to him, the government is determined to ensure that the coastal highway remains in good condition for many years, adding that all road users must comply with the new regulations.
“The restriction became necessary to preserve the integrity of the highway and guarantee its long-term sustainability,” Dare said.
The ministry also announced additional restrictions affecting other categories of road users.
It warned that indiscriminate parking of trucks and articulated vehicles on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and on bridges across Lagos State would no longer be allowed.
According to the ministry, heavy-duty vehicles parked carelessly on highways and bridges pose serious safety risks, obstruct traffic flow and can contribute to the deterioration of road infrastructure.
Authorities also prohibited the indiscriminate dumping of refuse along highway corridors, describing the practice as harmful to public infrastructure and the environment.
Officials said refuse dumped along roads often blocks drainage channels, contributes to flooding during the rainy season and damages road surfaces over time.
Dare warned that anyone found violating the new directives would face strict enforcement measures.
He disclosed that warning signs have already been installed along the highway to notify motorists and other road users of the restrictions.
In addition, task force personnel will be deployed to strategic locations to monitor compliance and enforce the new rules.
According to him, the ministry will not tolerate activities capable of reducing the lifespan of the road or putting other users at risk.
He described the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a world-class infrastructure project that requires proper maintenance and responsible use by members of the public.
He urged motorists, transport operators and residents to cooperate with the government by obeying all traffic regulations and protecting the highway from misuse.
According to Dare, proper maintenance of the road will ensure that Nigerians continue to enjoy the economic and transportation benefits of the project for decades.
He stressed that protecting public infrastructure is a shared responsibility between government agencies and citizens.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is one of the Federal Government’s flagship infrastructure projects designed to improve transportation along Nigeria’s southern coastline.
The highway is expected to connect Lagos with several coastal states, including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River, before terminating in Calabar.
When completed, the road is expected to reduce travel time, improve trade, boost tourism, support agriculture and strengthen economic activities across the coastal region.
The project is also expected to ease pressure on existing federal highways while opening up new opportunities for investment, industrial development and job creation.
Construction of the highway began under the administration of President Bola Tinubu as part of efforts to modernise Nigeria’s transport infrastructure.
Although the project has received praise from many stakeholders for its potential economic benefits, it has also generated public debate.
Some residents and property owners affected by the project raised concerns over demolitions carried out during construction, while environmental groups have called for careful management of the project’s impact on coastal ecosystems.
Despite these concerns, the Federal Government has maintained that the highway will play a major role in transforming transportation and economic development across southern Nigeria.
Road infrastructure experts have also repeatedly stressed that newly constructed highways require effective maintenance and strict enforcement of traffic regulations to maximise their lifespan.
Heavy vehicles parked indiscriminately, overloaded trucks, poor drainage caused by refuse dumping and the use of roads by inappropriate vehicles have been identified as some of the major factors responsible for the rapid deterioration of many highways across the country.
The government believes that early enforcement of regulations on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway will help prevent such problems and reduce future maintenance costs.
Commercial motorcycle operators, popularly known as okada riders, and tricycle operators have become an important part of Nigeria’s transport system, particularly in congested urban areas where they provide quick access to communities not easily reached by larger vehicles.
However, their operations have also been associated with safety concerns, traffic violations and road accidents in several states.
The latest directive means that commercial motorcycles and tricycles will not be permitted to operate on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, although the ministry did not indicate whether alternative routes would be provided for affected operators.
Motorists and transport unions are expected to study the new traffic arrangements as enforcement begins this week.
The Federal Ministry of Works expressed confidence that strict compliance with the regulations will help preserve the quality of the highway and improve safety for all road users.
It urged Nigerians to see the new measures not as a punishment but as necessary steps to protect one of the country’s most important infrastructure investments.
With enforcement set to commence this week, road users have been advised to pay attention to the warning signs already installed along the highway and cooperate with officials to ensure smooth implementation of the new rules.