Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Minister of Works David Umahi have disputed claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway (LCC) project is responsible for the recent flooding in the island state saying the story is untrue and has not been proved engineering-wise.
In a move that squarely challenged Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, the two officials also disclosed their presence when Umahi went to Lagos to check on the extent of the flood in the state after many had alleged on social media that the coastal highway aggravated flooding in the state.
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During the inspection, Umahi noted that they had been unable to find evidence that the flooding was related to the highway, and that the roadway was in good condition in the area.
Nearing the commissioning of SAFARI Road, he said that the road had been engineered and raised to be versatile enough to handle the surge of the sea and would help to make the corridor more resistant to flooding for decades into the future.
Many of the impacted communities were low-lying and swampy even before construction intending naturally to be vulnerable during periods of heavy rainfall, the minister said.
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In addition, he blamed blockage of drainage systems, indiscriminate refuse disposal, illegal constructions along natural water bodies and heavy rains in several states as the cause of the floods. He pointed out that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) earlier predicted flooding in 22 states of the nation that could not exclude Lagos, adding that it was not an anomaly.
The Governor assured this that Lagos’ geographical location renders seasonal flooding predictable because most parts of the state are below sea level while there are several lagoon and the Atlantic Ocean surrounding the state.
The government is still working on upgrading its drainage system and there is no city that is fully protected from flooding during extended rainy periods in the event of coastal characteristics, he said.
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The governor said that the state has increased the clean-up of channels, big roads, like Lagos-Badagry Expressway, and the installation of the mechanical machinery for street cleaning by the mechanised company for maintenance of the coastal highway corridor.
In addition, he emphasized that service streets should be built in order to have good access and maintain the integrity of the highway system.
The Federal Government and Lagos State would also work together whatever the additional drainage infrastructure required except for the destruction of the medians for future development along the highway alignment, before engaging with stakeholders, the Executive told the residents. Umahi added that stakeholders would also be involved before such destruction is carried out.
