The Federal Government has revealed that buildings obstructing drainage channels along sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway may be removed as part of ongoing efforts to improve flood control and construct service lanes in affected areas of Lagos.
Minister of Works, David Umahi, disclosed this after leading a joint inspection of the highway, an exercise ordered by President Bola Tinubu following concerns over flooding in communities located along the project corridor.
The inspection included representatives of the Federal Ministry of Environment, members of the National Assembly, project consultants, contractors and presidential aides.
Umahi dismissed claims that the coastal highway was responsible for recent flooding, stating that technical assessments showed the project’s drainage system was operating as intended.
According to him, the flooding is largely caused by blocked drainage channels, indiscriminate refuse disposal, illegal reclamation of waterways and poorly planned developments that ignored environmental considerations.
He explained that the Federal Government, in partnership with the Lagos State Government, plans to implement comprehensive flood-control measures, including additional drainage facilities, service lanes and the reopening of natural water channels that have been obstructed over the years.
The minister noted that some structures built along critical drainage routes may have to be removed to allow the project to succeed, adding that compensation would be provided where applicable in line with government regulations.
Speaking on the flooding experienced in Alpha Beach, Umahi said the area had long been prone to flooding before construction of the coastal highway began, noting that many residential estates were developed on naturally low-lying land without adequate flood-risk assessments.
He also urged stricter enforcement of planning regulations to ensure future developments comply with environmental and climate resilience standards.
Umahi further stated that the coastal highway includes shoreline protection works designed to reduce the impact of Atlantic Ocean surges on surrounding communities.
He appealed to residents to stop dumping refuse into drainage systems and warned against vandalising highway infrastructure, saying such actions contribute significantly to flooding during heavy rainfall.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Moremi Ojudu, said the government would intensify public awareness campaigns to encourage proper waste disposal and regular maintenance of drainage channels.
Officials from the Federal Ministry of Environment and the National Assembly described flooding in Lagos as a broader environmental challenge driven by climate change, rapid urbanisation, tidal conditions and poor drainage management rather than the highway project itself.
Meanwhile, Hitech Construction Company assured that it would continue clearing blocked culverts, removing debris from drainage channels and monitoring water flow as work progresses on the highway.
