Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and Minister of Works, David Umahi, have rejected claims that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is responsible for the recent flooding recorded in parts of Lagos.

The two officials made the clarification on Monday during a courtesy visit by Umahi and members of the National Assembly to the Lagos governor, amid growing concerns that the massive infrastructure project may have contributed to the flooding that followed days of heavy rainfall across the state.

Floodwaters have submerged roads, homes and vehicles in several communities, prompting some residents to blame the ongoing highway construction for worsening the situation.

However, Umahi dismissed the allegations, describing them as a misleading social media narrative. He revealed that President Bola Tinubu ordered an inspection of the project following reports suggesting that the coastal highway had triggered flooding in Lagos.

“We were concerned about the negative narrative on social media claiming that the coastal highway caused flooding in Lagos,” Umahi said.

“The President directed us to come with members of the National Assembly to assess the situation ourselves.”

According to the minister, the highway was deliberately elevated to protect it from ocean surges and ensure the corridor remains flood-resistant for the next 20 to 30 years.

He explained that many of the affected communities were naturally swampy before construction began, adding that structures built below approved flood levels would remain susceptible to flooding irrespective of the highway project.

Umahi also praised the Lagos State Government’s drainage master plan, noting that over 80 per cent of drainage channels discharging into lagoons had already been completed.

He said the Federal Government and Lagos State would work together to expand drainage infrastructure and construct service lanes along the highway corridor, warning that some structures may be affected by the development.

The minister further disclosed that consultations would be held with affected residents, while additional facilities such as surveillance cameras, wind-monitoring stations, parking areas and tourism infrastructure would be incorporated into the project.

Lagos’ Geography Responsible for Flooding — Sanwo-Olu

Speaking during the visit, Sanwo-Olu maintained that Lagos’ recurring flooding is largely a consequence of its coastal location rather than the ongoing road construction.

He noted that Lagos occupies less than 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass and that nearly one-third of the state is covered by water, making seasonal flooding a natural environmental challenge.

“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,” the governor said.

Sanwo-Olu explained that intense rainfall can temporarily overwhelm drainage systems but stressed that floodwaters often recede within a short period.

He also accused some social media users of sharing images taken during the peak of flooding to create what he described as a false impression of the situation across the state.

The governor blamed indiscriminate waste disposal for worsening flooding, saying blocked drainage channels remain one of the major causes of urban flooding in Lagos.

According to him, the state government will continue to enforce environmental regulations, including its ban on styrofoam products, while introducing additional measures to safeguard drainage infrastructure.

“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 said.

Sanwo-Olu revealed that the state had commenced a clean-up operation along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway and entered into an agreement with a mechanised street-cleaning company to deploy six-lane sweeping machines for the daily maintenance of the coastal highway.

He added that service roads would also be constructed alongside the highway to improve access for residents and businesses, although some properties may have to be removed to accommodate the project.

The governor commended the Federal Government for undertaking the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, describing it as a transformative project capable of stimulating economic growth, improving connectivity and enhancing the quality of life of Nigerians.