The Federal Government has warned motorists and residents against allowing livestock and abandoned vehicles on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, as authorities intensify efforts to prevent activities capable of disrupting traffic and damaging the highway.

The Federal Controller of Works, Lagos, Engr. Olufemi Dare, gave the warning while representing the Minister of Works, David Umahi, at a joint press briefing with the Lagos State Police Command in Lagos.

Dare said the government had prohibited the rearing of goats, sheep and cattle along the coastal highway, while motorists whose vehicles develop faults are expected to promptly seek assistance instead of leaving them on the road.

He warned that vehicles abandoned after breaking down on the Coastal Road would be towed away, advising affected motorists to contact the police or road safety officials for assistance.

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The Federal Government also warned against the use of the Coastal Road for activities unrelated to its purpose as a major highway, including the parking of trailers and the operation of tricycles and bicycles.

The warning came as Dare disclosed that 12 suspects had been arrested over alleged vandalism and other illegal activities on the road.

According to him, nine of the suspects were arrested over alleged vandalism of infrastructure, while three others were apprehended for allegedly creating unauthorised U-turns and demanding money from motorists who used them.

Dare said five suspects had already been charged to court, while investigations were continuing into the others to establish the wider network allegedly involved in receiving and disposing of vandalised government property.

He said the authorities would continue to pursue those allegedly involved in the vandalism of government infrastructure, including individuals who receive stolen materials.

The government also reiterated that the Coastal Road is not a trailer park and warned that unauthorised activities along the highway would not be tolerated.

He said, “We have another three, three of them here that created illegal U-turns on the Coastal Road. They were like collecting money. They give U-turns to people and then they collect money from them.

“All of this is not tolerated on the Coastal Road. And let me use this medium also to announce to Lagosians and Nigerians. We don’t want trailers to park on Coastal Road.

“Coastal Road is not a trailer park. It is a superhighway. You enter it from Eko Atlantic and you go straight to Calabar.

“If you are dropping in Ogun State, you stop. You are dropping in Akwa-Ibom, you are dropping in all directions qthe nine states that this road is going to pass. So there’s no keke on the Coastal Road.

“It’s very, very important. If you drive bicycle, if you drive tricycles, you will be arrested. You will be arrested and it will be confiscated and you will never see it again.

“Destitutes, we don’t want them on Coastal Road. Rearing of animals, rearing of goats and sheep and cows is banned on Coastal Road. These are all that we don’t want.

“If your vehicle breaks down, call on the police. They can easily help us. We have road safety there that will help you.

“But if you leave it there, that vehicle will be towed away.”