Share
Gbeminiyi Ogunleye
2 weeks ago
Overview
Coastal highway designed to mitigate flooding, not cause it — Umahi
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has defended the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project against claims that it is worsening flooding in Lagos, insisting the road was specifically designed to reduce flood risks through extensive drainage infrastructure.
Speaking during a briefing, Umahi said the coastal highway incorporates multiple culverts, evacuation channels and other drainage systems intended to manage stormwater, protect nearby communities from ocean surges and improve flood resilience along the corridor.
“The coastal highway was designed to mitigate flooding, not cause it,” the minister said, rejecting criticism that the project contributed to recent flooding in parts of Lagos.
Umahi said flooding in areas including Victoria Island predated the highway project and blamed the recurring problem on blocked drainage systems, indiscriminate refuse disposal and construction on natural waterways.
