He feels that roads with reinforced concrete manhole covers may safely accommodate both people and vehicles.During Tuesday’s downpour, the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was flooded due to vandalism and reckless trash dumping, according to the federal government.
Floods were not caused by improper construction methods, according to officials.
During a press conference on Wednesday in Lagos, Mr. Olufemi Dare, the state’s federal controller of works, stated the following.
He stated that misleading films were circulating on social media stating that the floods were caused by construction defects.
Just below the r
Here, we are not confronted with an instance of a mistake in construction. Designed and manufactured by people. The criminals take the iron reinforcings after smashing the concrete manhole covers.
The drainage system gets clogged up because some people, after removing the covers, put trash into the manholes.
“Flooding occurs when rain falls because water cannot pass through,” he pointed out.
Dare reported that manhole covers along Eko Atlantic were removed, indicating widespread vandalism.
The removal of seven steel traffic signs and the theft of approximately fifty parts of the see-through fence along the route were also mentioned, according to him.
Dismayed by the development, he stressed the significance of protecting the coastline road, a significant federal investment.
In order to restore water flow, the contractor, Hitech Construction Company, had workers clear the drainage until around 10 p.m. on Tuesday, according to the controller.
In order to guarantee the safety of the corridor, a large contingent was dispatched by the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, according to Dare.
He said that there are continuous efforts to clear the areas surrounding Rainoil and Marwa Junction of shanties and other illegal structures because they have been identified as crime hotspots.
He announced that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency and a task force will increase their action in the region to crack down on drug trafficking.
Commercial motorcycling is still not permitted on highways, he stressed, and he warned that drivers whose vehicles do not comply with traffic laws risk arrest.
Nothing will change unless we take immediate and firm action. “We will not tolerate such violations on the coastal highway, which is a superhighway,” he told reporters.
While Dare acknowledged that the road is still in the planning phase, Minister of Works Sen. David Umahi temporarily opened the roadway in December to alleviate traffic over the Yuletide season.
He continued by saying that the design of the drainage system to channel water into certain canals had been allowed by the Lagos State Government.
Also, the controller has officially verified that the annual Access Bank Marathon would be held on the coastal highway this coming Saturday.
His information is that from Friday night at midnight until Saturday at 12:30 p.m., drivers would not be able to use the route.
There will be a satisfactory resolution. Every possible entrance shall be sealed. The need of drivers being well-prepared in advance was stressed by him.
Add insult to injury by claiming that Friday the Minister of Works would personally visit the project site to take stock and hand out additional directives.