Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Minister of Works, David Umahi, have dismissed claims that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is responsible for flooding in parts of Lagos, describing the allegations as false and driven by misinformation circulating on social media.
The governor and the minister spoke during a courtesy visit by Umahi and members of the National Assembly to Lagos, where they also inspected sections of the coastal highway project.
Welcoming the minister and the lawmakers, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the Federal Government for embarking on what he described as a transformative infrastructure project that would boost economic activities and improve the quality of life of Nigerians.
He noted that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, initially dismissed by many as a political promise, had become a reality.
“Two years ago, it felt like it was just a political conversation, but today people are already using the road. We thank Mr. President for this landmark project. Lagos has been the first major beneficiary, and we are indeed grateful because it will enhance the quality of life of our people and improve the economy of the country,” the governor said.
Addressing concerns over flooding in parts of Lagos, Sanwo-Olu explained that the state’s coastal geography makes seasonal flooding unavoidable.
He said Lagos occupies less than 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass, with about one-third of its territory covered by water, while its rapidly growing population continues to place pressure on available land and infrastructure.
“Lagos is a coastal city. When people say Lagos has flooded, without mincing words, we will always experience some level of flooding. We only pray that it will not be severe. These are natural occurrences associated with coastal environments across the world,” he stated.
The governor explained that heavy rainfall could temporarily overwhelm drainage systems, regardless of their capacity, but maintained that floodwaters usually recede after a short period.
He accused some social media users of creating misleading impressions by circulating photographs taken during peak flooding without showing conditions after the water had subsided.
“We cannot allow social media to define who we are. That does not mean we ignore our challenges. Whenever there are problems, we must confront them and solve them, but we must also understand the realities of our environment,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu identified indiscriminate refuse disposal as one of the major factors contributing to flooding, noting that blocked drainage channels continue to worsen the situation across the state.
He recalled that the Lagos State Government banned the use of styrofoam because of its environmental impact and disclosed that additional environmental regulations would soon be introduced.
The governor also revealed that the state had commenced a major clean-up of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to safeguard public infrastructure, stressing that the government would enforce a zero-tolerance policy against activities capable of damaging roads and drainage facilities.
He further disclosed that the state had signed an agreement with a mechanised street-cleaning company to deploy specialised six-lane sweeping machines for the daily maintenance of the Coastal Highway.
Sanwo-Olu said service roads would also be constructed along the highway to improve access for residents and businesses while preserving the integrity of the main carriageway, adding that some structures might be removed to accommodate the infrastructure.
Earlier, Minister of Works David Umahi said the inspection was directed by President Bola Tinubu following widespread social media reports alleging that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was responsible for flooding in Lagos.
He described the claims as false and misleading, noting that flooding had been recorded in several states across the country and had been forecast in at least 22 states.
“We were concerned about the negative narrative on social media claiming that the Coastal Highway caused flooding in Lagos. The President directed us to come with members of the National Assembly to assess the situation ourselves,” Umahi said.
The minister explained that the highway was intentionally elevated to withstand ocean surges and protect the corridor from flooding over the next 20 to 30 years.
According to him, the affected areas had always been swampy before construction began, warning that buildings erected below approved flood levels would remain vulnerable to flooding irrespective of the highway project.
Umahi commended the Lagos State Government’s drainage master plan, particularly its strategy of directing stormwater into lagoons rather than the ocean.
He disclosed that more than 80 per cent of the drainage evacuation channels leading to the lagoons had been completed.
The minister said the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government would collaborate on the construction of additional drainage channels and service lanes along both sides of the Coastal Highway.
He, however, noted that some structures would have to be removed to make way for the drainage infrastructure and service roads, adding that stakeholder engagements had been scheduled with affected residents.
Umahi also announced plans to provide modern infrastructure along the corridor, including surveillance cameras, wind stations, parking facilities, tourism infrastructure and other amenities.
He assured that strict development control would be enforced along the Coastal Highway corridor to ensure the project meets international standards and serves as a source of national pride.
The minister thanked residents and stakeholders for their support, describing their cooperation as critical to the progress recorded on the landmark project.
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