Officials say Lagos Coastal Highway not cause of flooding

Senior officials have dismissed claims that the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is responsible for recent severe flooding in parts of Lagos, attributing the inundation to natural geography and poor drainage maintenance. The rebuttals came during an inspection visit by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, and members of the National Assembly to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday, July 6.

The visit was prompted by widespread reports on social media linking the highway project to flooding that submerged roads, homes, and vehicles after days of persistent rainfall. Umahi stated that President Bola Tinubu directed the delegation to assess the situation firsthand. He described the online claims as false and misleading, noting that flooding had been forecast for at least 22 states across Nigeria.

Officials argued that the coastal highway, far from causing flooding, was designed to mitigate it. Umahi explained the road was intentionally elevated to withstand ocean surges and protect the corridor for the next 20 to 30 years. He added that the affected areas were naturally swampy before construction began and warned that buildings erected below approved...