The federal government (FG) has properly profiled the 40 newly inaugurated Coastal Road Guards, documented their guarantors and installed trackers on their motorcycles to ensure the equipment is used strictly for official assignments.
Federal controller of Works in Lagos State, Engr. Oluremi Dare disclosed this during the inauguration of the guards on Thursday.
Dare said the deployment of the guards was to protect the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway from vandalism and other unlawful activities.
He said the initiative became necessary following repeated vandalism of facilities installed on the highway.
According to him, infrastructure such as manhole covers and directional signs were vandalised shortly after installation and continued to be damaged even after they were replaced.
He said the recurring incidents prompted the ministry to establish the Coastal Road Guards to provide round-the-clock surveillance and preserve the integrity of the road.
Dare said the 40 guards were trained by the Nigeria Police Force and equipped with motorcycles, helmets, walkie-talkies, flashlights and other operational tools to enhance their effectiveness.
The controller charged the guards to carry out their duties with discipline and professionalism, warning that they would also be held accountable for any unlawful conduct.
He said they were expected to prevent the use of motorcycles and tricycles on the highway, discourage indiscriminate parking of trailers and trucks.
Dare said they were also expected to stop illegal U-turns, curb vandalism of manhole covers and road signs, prevent illegal grazing, street trading, illegal occupation of the highway corridor and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
“They are to monitor the highway both day and night, arrest offenders where necessary and hand them over to the appropriate security agencies,” he said.
Dare commended the supervisors, administrative officers and guards for their commitment during training and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them.
Earlier, the Deputy Team Lead of the Coastal Road Guards, Mr Kelvin Okereke, thanked President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Works for initiating the programme.
He described the initiative as a source of employment and income for many Nigerians.
He added that the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway had created new opportunities while promoting the protection of public infrastructure.
Okereke urged Nigerians to see the protection of government assets as a collective responsibility.
Also speaking, the Chief Security Officer of the Coastal Road Guards, Mr Paul Mbam, said the initiative had given him gainful employment and exposed him to valuable security training.
He said the programme had equipped him with knowledge and skills that would enable him to effectively discharge his responsibilities.
In his remarks, the administrative officer of the Coastal Road Guards, Augustine Usumero, said the team would work closely with the government to ensure the objectives of the initiative were achieved.
Usumero said proper records would be maintained while government assets provided for the operation would be effectively managed.
He expressed confidence that the initiative would succeed, noting that the guards had already demonstrated commitment during preliminary assessments.
