Three persons have been arrested for allegedly creating illegal U-turns along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road and collecting money from motorists who used the unauthorised openings.

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

Dare said the three suspects were among 12 people arrested over alleged vandalism and other unauthorised activities along the coastal highway.

According to him, nine suspects were arrested in connection with alleged vandalism of infrastructure, while the remaining three were apprehended for allegedly creating illegal U-turns and collecting money from motorists.

He said five of the suspects had already been charged to court, while investigations were ongoing into the others to identify the wider network allegedly involved in receiving and disposing of stolen government property.

Dare said the authorities were determined to trace those receiving vandalised infrastructure materials, stressing that efforts to curb the destruction of public facilities would not stop at the arrest of those allegedly removing them.

He also warned motorists and other road users against engaging in activities prohibited along the Coastal Road, including the use of tricycles and bicycles.

According to him, trailers are also prohibited from parking on the highway, which he described as a major route connecting Lagos with Calabar.

He added that the rearing of goats, sheep and cattle, as well as the presence of destitutes, was not permitted along the road.

Dare further advised motorists whose vehicles break down on the Coastal Road to contact the police or road safety officials for assistance, warning that vehicles abandoned on the highway would be towed away.

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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.”