The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, have dismissed claims that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is responsible for flooding in parts of Lagos, describing the narrative as misinformation spread on social media.
The governor and the minister spoke during a courtesy visit from the minister alongside members of the National Assembly.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who welcomed the Minister of Works and lawmakers from both chambers of the National Assembly, commended the Federal Government for embarking on what he described as a transformative infrastructure project that would improve the economy and the quality of life of Nigerians.
He said the Coastal Highway, which many initially dismissed as a political promise, has become a reality.
He said: “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.”
Addressing concerns over flooding, Governor Sanwo-Olu explained that Lagos’ geographical location makes seasonal flooding inevitable.
According to him, Lagos occupies less than 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass, with about one-third of the state covered by water, while its rapidly growing population continues to exert 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 noted that intense rainfall could temporarily overwhelm drainage systems regardless of their size but insisted that floodwaters usually recede after some time.
He accused 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 also blamed indiscriminate refuse disposal for worsening flooding across the state, saying blocked drainage channels remain one of the major causes of urban flooding.
He recalled that the Lagos State Government banned the use of styrofoam because of its harmful environmental impact and disclosed that additional environmental regulations would soon be introduced.
The governor further revealed that the state had commenced a major clean-up of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to protect public infrastructure, stressing that the government would enforce zero tolerance against activities capable of damaging roads and drainage systems.
On maintaining the Coastal Highway, Sanwo-Olu disclosed that the state had signed an agreement with a mechanised street-cleaning company that would deploy specialised six-lane sweeping machines to clean the highway daily.
He assured residents that the government would continue protecting public investments and ensuring proper maintenance of critical infrastructure.
Speaking on the need for service roads along the Coastal Highway, the governor said such facilities would improve access for residents and businesses while protecting the integrity of the main carriageway.
He acknowledged that some structures might have to be removed to accommodate the infrastructure but stressed that such sacrifices were necessary for long-term development.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said the inspection was directed by President Bola Tinubu following widespread reports on social media alleging that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway was responsible for flooding in Lagos.
Umahi described the reports as false and misleading, noting that flooding had been recorded across several states of the federation and had been predicted 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,” he said.
The minister explained that the highway was deliberately elevated to withstand ocean surges and protect the corridor from flooding for the next 20 to 30 years.
He noted that the affected areas were naturally swampy long before construction commenced and warned that buildings constructed below approved flood levels would continue to experience flooding irrespective of the highway.
Umahi commended the Lagos State Government’s drainage master plan, particularly its policy of directing stormwater into lagoons rather than directly into the ocean.
According to him, more than 80 per cent of the drainage evacuation channels leading to the lagoons have already been completed.
He disclosed that both the Federal and Lagos State governments would collaborate to provide additional drainage channels and service lanes along both sides of the Coastal Highway.
The minister, however, noted that some structures would have to be removed to accommodate the drainage infrastructure and service roads, adding that stakeholder engagements had been scheduled to ensure cooperation from affected residents.
Umahi also revealed plans to provide modern infrastructure along the corridor, including surveillance cameras, wind stations, parking facilities, tourism infrastructure and other amenities.
He stressed that strict development control would be enforced along the Coastal Highway corridor to ensure it meets international standards and becomes a source of national pride.
The minister thanked residents and stakeholders for their cooperation, saying their support had been instrumental to the progress recorded on the landmark project.