Minister of Works David Umahi has dismissed claims that the ongoing Lagos Coastal Highway project is responsible for the recent flooding experienced in parts of Lagos State, insisting that the project was designed to protect communities rather than worsen flooding.
Speaking on Thursday during the flag-off of the second phase of the Babban Lamba–Sharam Road rehabilitation project in Kanke Local Government Area of Plateau State, Umahi said the Federal Government is already working with the Lagos State Government to address the flooding challenge.
His comments come after days of heavy rainfall left several parts of Lagos submerged, disrupting traffic, stranding commuters and triggering public concerns that the coastal road construction may have contributed to the flooding.
Rejecting the allegations, the minister maintained that the coastal highway was elevated as part of its engineering design to prevent ocean water from overflowing into nearby communities and residential estates.
“We are going to Lagos with the leadership of the National Assembly Committees on Works to see how we can support the Lagos State Government in solving the flood problem. But it is not caused by the coastal road at all,” Umahi said.
He explained that the road’s elevated structure serves as a protective barrier against coastal flooding rather than an obstacle to water flow.
According to the minister, the Federal Government remains committed to collaborating with relevant authorities to identify practical and long-term solutions to Lagos’ recurring flood challenges.
The latest flooding followed days of intense rainfall across the state, with several roads becoming impassable and thousands of residents experiencing severe traffic delays and disruption to daily activities.
Umahi’s remarks seek to address growing public debate over whether major infrastructure projects, particularly the Lagos Coastal Highway, have played any role in worsening flooding in parts of the commercial capital.
