Members of the National Assembly on Monday dismissed claims that “the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway triggered recent flooding in parts of Lagos, saying the city’s perennial flooding predates the construction of the multi-billion-naira project.”
The lawmakers made the declaration after “inspecting the highway alongside the Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi, and other stakeholders following concerns that the project had worsened flooding in some adjoining communities.”
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Sen. Allwell Onyesoh, said “observations at the project site and expert presentations convinced the lawmakers that the coastal highway was not responsible for the flooding.”
He disclosed that “Umahi had earlier convened a stakeholders’ meeting where engineers, environmental experts and other professionals presented technical analyses on Lagos’ geography, weather patterns and drainage system.”
“We sat through what I would describe as a seminar, complete with diagrams, where experts explained everything about Lagos, its geographical location, weather patterns and other environmental factors,” Mr Onyesoh said.
He noted that “flooding in Lagos was a longstanding environmental challenge that dates back several decades.”
“This flooding of Lagos did not begin today; it dates back to the days of the white men. What we are seeing today is not new,” he said.
According to the senator, “the movement of floodwater observed during the inspection further demonstrated that the coastal highway was not obstructing natural water channels.”
“Even where we are standing, we can see floodwater moving. The water is moving from the ocean in this direction, which means that even without the coastal road, the water would still move this way,” he added.
Mr Onyesoh commended “President Bola Tinubu and Umahi for what he described as their swift intervention following public concerns over the flooding.”
He also praised “the minister for convening stakeholders to examine the issue and for directing the deployment of 40 youths to monitor the highway against vandalism and misuse.”
Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, also defended the project, “urging journalists and social media users to avoid attributing the flooding to the highway without scientific evidence.”
“It is easy to say the cause of the flooding is the coastal road, but always consult experts before making broad assumptions,” he said.
Alabi called for “responsible journalism, stressing that reports on major infrastructure projects should be based on verified facts rather than speculation.”
The Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sen. Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, said “lawmakers were satisfied that the coastal highway was not responsible for flooding in the affected areas.”
“We have seen, as a parliament, that the coastal highway is not in any way the cause of flooding in this part of Lagos. Going by history, flooding in Lagos is as old as the city itself,” he said.
Mr Nwaebonyi urged “the Lagos State Government to work with environmental experts to improve flood management, including clearing blocked drainage channels and waterways.”
He also appealed to “residents to desist from activities that obstruct natural drainage systems, noting that indiscriminate waste disposal contributes significantly to flooding.”
The lawmaker expressed confidence in “Umahi’s capacity to address Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges while ensuring that the coastal highway project is delivered in line with environmental standards.”