Minister of Works David Umahi has rubbished claims that the recent flooding that hit parts of Lagos State was due to the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
He insisted that the construction of the coastal highway has not blocked any of the state’s natural drainage system.
Umahi made this statement while inspecting sections of the coastal highway and stated that the recent flooding in Lagos was caused mostly by heavy downpour, inadequate existing drainage systems, and other geographical characteristics peculiar to the coastal state.
He assured that the highway was built with adequate drainage systems to manage any floodwaters.
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According to him, areas that experienced accumulation of water were just small dips being corrected, or areas meant for the construction of railway lines in the future, as he stressed that engineers had already begun remediation where necessary.
He also said that some minor structural adjustments might be required in areas to accommodate construction activities, but not on a large scale that could lead to flooding across the state.
He dismissed that the coastal highway blocked any drainage channels, saying that the highway has a wide underground drainage system to deal with floodwaters and the environment of the coastal corridor. He added that the Ministry of Works would monitor it.
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This follows days of torrential downpours which submerged several streets and communities in Lagos, disrupting traffic and business activities. Many, particularly on social media, believed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway played a role in the flooding but that has been refuted by the minister.
Umahi’s position mirrored that of the Lagos State government which has previously warned that flash flooding was inevitable in the low-lying coastal city during heavy rainfall or when there is high tide, and has urged citizens to avoid littering of drainages, while investing in more flood control systems.
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He reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project, calling it a strategic infrastructure which would boost transportation, trade and connectivity across the nation and has been designed to limit environmental challenges.
