The Lagos State Government and the Federal Government have dismissed claims linking the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project to flooding in parts of Lagos, calling the allegations false and driven by misinformation on social media.
The position was announced 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.
Speaking during the visit, Sanwo-Olu commended President Bola Tinubu for initiating what he described as a transformative infrastructure project capable of boosting the nation’s economy and improving citizens’ quality of life.
“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,” he said.
Addressing concerns that the project may have contributed to flooding, the governor noted that Lagos, due to its coastal nature, would always experience some level of flooding, especially during periods of heavy 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,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He explained that intense rainfall can temporarily overwhelm drainage systems but stressed that floodwaters often recede after some time.
The governor also accused some social media users of creating misleading impressions by sharing images captured at the peak 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 further attributed worsening flooding in parts of the state to indiscriminate waste disposal, noting that blocked drainage channels remain a major cause of urban flooding.
He disclosed that the state had commenced a large-scale clean-up of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and would continue to enforce environmental regulations to safeguard roads and drainage infrastructure.
The governor also revealed that the state 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 importance of constructing service roads along the corridor to improve accessibility and protect the integrity of the main carriageway, noting that some structures may need to be removed to accommodate the infrastructure.
Earlier, the Minister of Works, David Umahi, said President Tinubu directed him to assess the flooding situation following widespread claims on social media that it was caused by the Coastal Highway project.
“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.
Umahi described the claims as false and misleading, noting that flooding had already been predicted in at least 22 states nationwide.
According to him, the Coastal Highway was deliberately elevated to withstand ocean surges and protect the corridor from flooding over the next 20 to 30 years.
He added that the affected areas were originally swampy before construction began and warned that buildings erected below approved flood levels would continue to experience flooding regardless of the highway project.
The minister commended the Lagos State Government’s drainage master plan, noting that more than 80 per cent of the drainage channels leading to the lagoons had been completed.
He added that the Federal Government would collaborate with the state to construct additional drainage channels and service roads along the highway corridor, although some structures may need to be removed to accommodate the infrastructure.
Umahi also revealed plans to install surveillance cameras, wind stations, parking facilities, tourism infrastructure and other modern amenities along the Coastal Highway, and added that strict development control measures would be enforced to ensure the project meets international standards.