Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has blamed the recent flooding around the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on the failure to implement Lagos State’s flood management master plan and the indiscriminate dumping of refuse by residents.
Umahi made the remarks on Sunday while inspecting Section Three of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway.
He said the Federal Government would carry out a technical assessment of the coastal highway following President Bola Tinubu’s directive, stressing that the road itself was not responsible for the flooding.
“We will evaluate the coastal highway and its surroundings as directed by the President. The flooding is not being caused by the project, but we want to examine the situation technically,” he said.
According to the minister, several drainage channels and lagoon outlets identified in the Lagos flood control master plan have not been properly developed.
He also criticised the indiscriminate disposal of refuse, describing it as a major contributor to blocked drainage systems and flooding across the state.
“You can see the amount of refuse along the roads. People dump waste into drainage channels, preventing water from flowing freely. This country belongs to all of us, and everyone has a responsibility to protect public infrastructure,” Umahi said.
The minister praised President Tinubu for what he described as his commitment to infrastructure development and urged Nigerians to appreciate ongoing projects rather than engage in what he called destructive criticism.
He also commended Hitech Construction Company Ltd., the contractor handling the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, for the pace of work, noting that the company had completed about 10 per cent of the permanent works.
Umahi further advised the contractor to focus on its assigned section of the project, saying the Ogun State Government should independently handle the proposed flyover rather than relying on an existing foundation whose structural integrity could not be guaranteed.
