News
Vandalism causing flooding on Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway –Umahi
The Federal Government on Thursday raised concerns over a disturbing surge in vandalism of critical public infrastructure, particularly along the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway corridor and major bridges in Lagos.
It warned that the trend threatened the durability of newly constructed roads and bridges nationwide.
The government also attributed recent flooding along the coastal highway to blocked drainage channels caused by improper waste disposal.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, who spoke at a press briefing in Abuja, described the situation as “alarming and unsustainable,” saying the ministry was engaged in a “daily fight” to protect federal assets from deliberate sabotage.
According to him, the Lagos coastal highway had become a major hotspot for vandalism despite intensified security measures.
“This press briefing is to bring to the attention of the public the massive vandalism of our critical infrastructure all over the country. Within the coastal route that is being circulated, you can see massive break-ins. It is a daily fight,” he said.
Umahi said he personally visited Lagos two weeks ago to assess the destruction and commended the Lagos State Government and the police for deploying operatives along the highway.
“I thank the governor and the people of Lagos State, as well as the Commissioner of Police.
“There has been a massive deployment within the coastal route to check vandalism. But as we speak now, the things we have done to protect the coastal route are being destroyed by people,” he said.
The minister disclosed that protective installations, including green barbed wires and other security fittings along sections of the highway, had been repeatedly cut and stolen.
“They have cut wires that were put there to protect the beauty of the coastal roads. In several sections, these have been cut and taken away,” he said, adding that ongoing construction works were being disrupted by illegal access to restricted areas.
“The width of our road is 12 metres, and nine metres have been completed. There are connecting wire bars and protective coverings. Yet people go there, cross into the restricted areas and damage the work,” he explained.
The Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, one of the Federal Government’s flagship road projects, is designed to run approximately 700 kilometres from Lagos through several coastal states to Calabar, Cross River State, boosting trade, tourism, and regional connectivity.
The first phase in Lagos has faced controversies ranging from right-of-way disputes to environmental concerns.
Umahi linked the recent flooding along the coastal highway to blocked drainage channels caused by indiscriminate waste disposal.
“The flooding of the coastal highway was because our underground drainage channels were blocked. People dump refuse inside the manholes and underground channels. When those channels are blocked, water has nowhere to go. That is the basic reason for flooding seen on the coastal road, and I think for most places in Lagos.
“The public has a duty to protect public assets. We are doing everything possible to ensure the coastal highway is free and functional, but citizens must also play their part,” he said.
Beyond the coastal road, Umahi expressed concern over the condition of major bridges in Lagos, including the Third Mainland Bridge and Carter Bridge.
He disclosed that serious structural issues had been identified, with experts recommending eventual demolition of Carter Bridge.
Temporary measures are being implemented to keep it functional for about three years pending reconstruction.
Umahi attributed much of the damage to illegal sand mining around bridge foundations, explaining that many bridge piles depend on sand for stability.
“To the extent that by investigations and stakeholders’ meetings, experts have said Carter Bridge has to be demolished.
“But we are doing everything possible to strengthen it so that we can use it for the next three years pending reconstruction,” he said.
He cited an incident in which an illegal miner struck and removed a bridge pile, adding: “We have directed that the company involved be prosecuted. These illegalities have serious consequences on our infrastructure.”
The minister also listed other acts of vandalism nationwide, including the theft of expansion joints on bridges, reinforced concrete barriers on the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano highway, and electrical installations on flyovers and bridges.
“Just about two weeks back, we caught people removing expansion joints on Carter Bridge in Lagos.
“This is the second time we are catching people there,” he said, noting that expansion joints were often sold as scrap, weakening structural integrity.
Umahi highlighted the role of security technology, noting that the installation of Closed-Circuit Television cameras on the Third Mainland Bridge, as directed by President Bola Tinubu, had helped track and arrest vandals.
“It was very easy for the police to catch the vandals because of the CCTV installed there,” he said.
The minister warned against the practice of parking heavy trucks on bridges, stressing that bridges are not designed to withstand prolonged static loads.
“Roads and bridges are never designed for static loads. When you allow heavy trucks and vehicles to be parked on bridges, you are asking for trouble,” he cautioned.
He reiterated that the Federal Government had adopted reinforced concrete technology in road construction to enhance durability.
“The President inherited a very terrible state of roads and bridges. That is why he introduced reinforced concrete technology.
“The roads we are building now will last between 50 and 100 years, unlike many older roads that failed within 10 years,” he said.
While acknowledging that no project execution was perfect, Umahi insisted that the ministry remained committed to transparency and value for money.
“No one is God. No human being does anything in perfect order. But we are doing everything within the limit of our ability and conscience to ensure there is value for money and that we address the needs of our people,” he said.
He urged Nigerians to take collective responsibility for safeguarding public infrastructure, warning that repeated vandalism would drain public resources and slow national development.
“If we do not protect this infrastructure, repairs will have to be repeated. That is not good for our society.
“The President is working tirelessly to deliver these projects, and we must all help to protect them,” he concluded. (The Punch)
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has disclosed that there are two main reasons a former Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Uche Nnaji, is being detained by the commission.
It also revealed that legal action was taken against the Enugu-born politician after he failed to honour several invitations extended to him through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, and dated 15 May 2026.
John Odey, the spokesman of the commission in a statement on Wednesday explained that the commission later approached Federal High Court, Abuja Division, with the suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026) in order to effect Nnaji’s arrest after his failure to honour invitation.
Nnaji was arrested at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu, when he boarded a private jet to Abuja.
Corroborating the development, the ICPC spokesman said Nnaji’s arrest was effected at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon his arrival where he was led to the commission’s custody immediately.
According to him, Nnaji is being probed on forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) and False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
The statement read, “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arrested the immediate past Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon. Geoffrey Uchechukwu Nnaji (M), following the execution of a bench warrant issued by the Federal High Court of Nigeria.
“The arrest was effected on Wednesday, 1st July 2026 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, upon Mr. Nnaji’s arrival.
“He was apprehended with the assistance of the Department of State Services (DSS) and subsequently handed over to the ICPC for further investigation.
“The Commission had earlier extended formal invitations to the former minister through a letter referenced ICPC/HC/CSTF/GUN/GBT/T.1/VOLV16, dated 15 May 2026.
“The invitation notices were duly served to his known addresses in Abuja and Enugu, as well as via his electronic mail address.
“Despite service through multiple channels, Mr. Nnaji failed to appear for investigative interviews on the scheduled dates, necessitating further legal action.
“The legal action followed a court order granted by the Federal High Court in the Abuja Judicial Division (Suit No: FHC/ABJ/CS/1160/2026).
“The order, issued on 11 June 2026, directed the ICPC to arrest the former minister to enable investigation into allegations bordering on:
“Forgery of academic credentials, specifically concerning a degree certificate from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN); and “False National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Discharge Certificate, which was submitted during his ministerial screening process in 2023.
“Following the arrest, Mr. Nnaji has been taken into custody at the ICPC headquarters in Abuja, where investigations are expected to continue. The Commission assures the public that the matter will be pursued diligently in accordance with the law.”
The immediate past Minister of Science and Technology, Uche Nnaji, was arrested on Wednesday at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, on arrival from Enugu via a chartered flight.
Authoritative sources at the airport confirmed the arrest to PREMIUM TIMES, saying Mr Nnaji would be handed over to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for interrogation.
The reported arrest comes weeks after the Federal High Court reportedly granted the ICPC permission to arrest and investigate Nnaji over the allegations.
The court also authorised the anti-graft agency to declare him wanted through newspapers, social media platforms and other media channels after the commission alleged that he repeatedly failed to honour invitations for questioning.
According to the ICPC, its application to the court followed Nnaji’s alleged refusal to appear before investigators despite several invitations relating to the forgery allegations.
The case stems from a two-year investigation published by Premium Times in October last year, which alleged that Nnaji submitted forged University of Nigeria degree and National Youth Service Corps certificates during his ministerial screening and confirmation process in 2023.
The report alleged that the documents were presented to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigerian Senate, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the State Security Service.
According to the publication, Nnaji later acknowledged that the University of Nigeria did not issue him the degree certificate in question, a development the newspaper said corroborated its investigation.Newspapers
The former minister had previously denied the existence of the court order authorising his arrest, dismissing the publication as a “media trial.”
However, on June 18, he reportedly filed an appeal before the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the arrest order.
As of the time of filing this report, the ICPC had not issued an official statement confirming the reported arrest, while Nnaji’s legal team had yet to publicly respond to the latest development.
The Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, restored the bail it had earlier granted to activist and presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore.
Sowore is facing a two-count cybercrime charge filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS) for calling President Bola Tinubu a “criminal” in a social media post.
Trial Justice Muhammed Umar, who had earlier granted the defendant bail on self-recognisance, on June 16 revoked the bail and issued a warrant for his arrest.
The order came after Sowore failed to appear before the court for the continuation of his trial, even though he wrote a letter explaining his absence and requesting a new date.
When proceedings resumed in the case on June 22, Justice Umar ordered the remand of the defendant in Kuje prison.
Dissatisfied with the actions the court took against him, Sowore—whose legal team had initially withdrawn from the case over alleged bias by the judge—secured a new lawyer, who promptly filed a motion to restore his bail and quash the arrest warrant.
When the case came up on Tuesday, Justice Umar held that he was minded to admit the defendant to bail.
However, the court listed some conditions that had to be met before he would be released from prison custody.
Aside from granting him bail to the tune of N200 million, the court held that the defendant must produce two sureties in like sum.
The court also ordered the defendant to surrender his international passport.
Related News
2027 Polls: Court orders INEC to register, grant access code to ADA wiithin 72 hours
NDC, Peter Obi, Sowore, Bolaji, Paul Ibe, PDP reject Lokoja court ruling
Sowore’s detention undermines fair trial, free speech — Gani Adams, Odumakin
Sowore, in the application he anchored on Sections 35(4), 36(1), and 66 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, as well as Sections 169 and 352 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015, insisted that the orders the court made against him were unjust and unwarranted.
The defendant had, on December 2, 2025, pleaded not guilty to the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/484/2025, filed against him by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The charges allege offences under Sections 24(1)(b) and 24(2)(a), (b), and (c) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition, Prevention, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The offending posts, made on August 25, 2025, were in response to President Tinubu’s claim, made in Brazil, that his administration had ended corruption in Nigeria.
Angered by the posts, the DSS demanded that X Inc. (formerly Twitter) and Meta Platforms Inc. ban Sowore’s accounts and remove the posts.
The security agency also wrote to Sowore, asking him to delete the posts from all platforms.
Non-compliance with the request led to the charges.
The prosecution claims the defamatory posts were intended to cause a breakdown of law and order and to tarnish the president’s reputation.
Exhibits include printouts of the posts and the DSS letters.
X Inc. and Meta were initially co-defendants but were delisted in the amended charge.
-
News1 day agoBREAKING: Ex-Minister Uche Nnaji arrested over alleged certificate forgery probe
-
News3 days ago
FG reforms NYSC, replaces military leadership, redesigns uniform
-
News2 days ago
Peter Obi’s name uploaded on INEC portal as NDC presidential candidate as party files stay of execution
-
News2 days ago
Downpour triggers widespread flooding in Lagos
-
News2 days ago
Alleged Cybercrime: Court grants Sowore N200m bail, orders two sureties, passport surrender
-
International2 days ago
Thousands flee South Africa as anti-immigrant deadline sparks nationwide protests
-
News2 days ago
Rampaging soldiers invade university hostels, assault students, seize phones
-
News13 hours ago
ICPC: Why we detained ex-minister uche Nnaji
