The Lagos State Government and the Federal Government have dismissed claims that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is responsible for recent flooding in parts of Lagos, describing the allegations as false and fuelled by misinformation circulating on social media.
The position was made known in a statement issued by the Lagos State Government on Tuesday following a courtesy visit by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and members of the National Assembly to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House.
Speaking during the visit, Governor Sanwo-Olu commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating what he described as a landmark infrastructure project capable of transforming the nation’s economy and improving the quality of life of Nigerians.
“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 country’s economy,” the governor said.
Responding to claims that the coastal highway contributed to flooding, Sanwo-Olu explained that Lagos, being a coastal city, would naturally experience some level of flooding, particularly during periods of intense rainfall.
“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 said.
He noted that while heavy rainfall may temporarily overwhelm drainage infrastructure, floodwaters usually recede after a short period.
The governor also criticised what he described as misleading narratives on social media, accusing some users of sharing photographs taken at the height of 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 attributed worsening flooding in some parts of the state to indiscriminate refuse disposal, which blocks drainage channels and impedes the free flow of stormwater.
He disclosed that the state government had commenced a comprehensive clean-up of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway corridor and would continue enforcing environmental sanitation laws to protect roads and drainage infrastructure.
The governor further revealed that Lagos had signed an agreement with a mechanised street-cleaning company to deploy specialised sweeping machines for the daily maintenance of the Coastal Highway.
He stressed the need for service roads along the highway corridor to improve accessibility and preserve the integrity of the main carriageway, noting that some structures may have to be removed to facilitate the project.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said President Tinubu directed him to personally assess the flooding situation after widespread claims emerged online linking the Coastal Highway project to the flooding experienced in parts of Lagos.
“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.
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The minister described the allegations as misleading, noting that meteorological forecasts had already predicted flooding in at least 22 states across the country before the onset of the rainy season.
He explained that the Coastal Highway was deliberately constructed at an elevated level to withstand tidal surges and protect the corridor from flooding for the next 20 to 30 years.
According to him, many of the affected areas were originally swampy before construction began, warning that buildings erected below approved flood levels would continue to experience flooding irrespective of the highway project.
Umahi also commended the Lagos State Government for its drainage master plan, revealing that more than 80 per cent of the drainage channels leading to the lagoons had already been completed.
He added that the Federal Government would collaborate with the Lagos State Government to construct additional drainage infrastructure and service roads along the Coastal Highway corridor, while enforcing strict development control measures to ensure compliance with international standards.
The minister further disclosed that the highway project would be equipped with surveillance cameras, wind-monitoring stations, parking facilities, tourism infrastructure and other modern amenities aimed at enhancing safety, economic activities and the overall sustainability of the corridor.