Lagos and Federal Government deny Coastal Highway caused flooding

The Lagos State Government and the Federal Government have rejected claims that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is causing flooding in some areas of Lagos. They called the allegations false and based on misinformation spread on social media.

This was stated in a release from the Lagos State Government on Tuesday. This came after a courtesy visit by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and some members of the National Assembly to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

During the visit, Sanwo-Olu praised President Bola Tinubu for starting what he called a life-changing infrastructure project. He said it would boost Nigeria’s economy and improve citizens' lives.

“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,” he said.

In response to worries linking the project to flooding, the governor said Lagos, being a coastal city, will always face some flooding during heavy rains.

“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,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He explained that heavy rainfall could overwhelm drainage systems temporarily, but the floodwaters usually go down after some time.

The governor accused some social media users of creating a wrong impression by sharing pictures taken during severe flooding without showing how the situation improved after the water went down.

“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 pointed out that throwing refuse everywhere makes flooding worse. He said blocked drainage channels are one of the main reasons for urban flooding in Lagos.

He mentioned that the state has started a major clean-up of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and will keep enforcing environmental rules to protect roads and drainage systems.

The governor also shared that the state has signed a deal with a mechanised street-cleaning company to use special machines for daily cleaning of the Coastal Highway.

He stressed the importance of service roads along the highway, saying they will make it easier to access while protecting the main road. Some buildings may have to be taken down to make space for this infrastructure.

Earlier, Umahi said Tinubu asked him to check the flooding situation after seeing many claims on social media that the Coastal Highway was the cause of flooding in 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,” the minister said.

He called the claims false and misleading. He noted that flooding had been predicted in at least 22 states across Nigeria.

According to Umahi, the Coastal Highway was built high to resist ocean surges and protect the road from flooding for the next 20 to 30 years.

He added that the areas now affected were naturally swampy before construction began and warned that buildings built below the approved flood levels would still flood no matter what.

Umahi praised the Lagos State Government’s drainage master plan and said over 80 percent of the drainage channels leading to the lagoons are already finished.

He mentioned that the Federal Government would work with Lagos State to build more drainage channels and service roads along the highway, although some buildings would need to be removed for the new infrastructure.

The minister also shared plans to install surveillance cameras, wind stations, parking lots, tourism facilities, and other modern features along the Coastal Highway. He added that strict rules will be enforced to ensure the project meets international standards.