The Federal Government has donated three patrol vehicles to the Nigeria Police Force to enhance security and tackle vandalism along Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
The vehicles were officially handed over on Saturday 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 oversees operations in Lagos and Ogun states.
Speaking during the handover, Dare explained that the intervention became necessary following repeated incidents involving the theft of steel barricades and other construction materials installed on the coastal highway.
According to him, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, expressed concern over the activities of vandals damaging facilities on the road project and subsequently approved the procurement of more patrol vehicles to strengthen security surveillance.
“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 optimism that the patrol vehicles would be effectively deployed to safeguard the infrastructure from further destruction.
Responding after receiving the vehicles, Jimoh commended the Minister of Works for consistently supporting security efforts aimed at protecting critical federal infrastructure.
He noted that the ministry had previously donated two specially equipped patrol vehicles and a surveillance control centre for monitoring activities on 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.
Jimoh disclosed that the vehicles would be operated from the Zone 2 Headquarters to ensure effective policing across state borders as work continues on the highway project.
He further revealed that during his tenure as Commissioner of Police in Lagos, over 30 patrol teams were deployed along the highway corridor, while the Lagos State Government under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu also provided four patrol vehicles to boost security operations.
According to him, the measures have produced positive results, as there had been no reported incidents of robbery or vehicle snatching on the highway since it was opened to motorists in December 2025.
He added that vandalism on the road had reduced drastically, noting that no fresh incident had been recorded within the last three weeks.
Jimoh also disclosed that more than 25 suspects arrested for vandalising facilities on the highway had already been arraigned in court and remanded.