The Federal Government has pushed back against mounting criticism over flooding in Lagos, defending the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as a solution rather than a cause. During an inspection tour on Monday, July 6, 2026, David Umahi, the minister of works, said engineering data showed that floods hitting communities like Alpha Beach stem from poor urban planning, weak drainage systems, illegal waste dumping and climate change impacts.
Umahi led lawmakers, environmental officials, Lagos State Government representatives, community leaders and journalists along flood-prone sections of the corridor. He rejected social media claims that the coastal highway was flooding neighbouring communities.
"The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is not the cause of flooding. Rather, it is helping to evacuate floodwaters through strategically designed culverts and drainage channels while protecting communities from ocean surge," he said.
According to Umahi, many estates near the corridor were built on low-lying land without considering historical flood patterns or proper environmental reviews. The highway features modern drainage infrastructure that lets stormwater move naturally between low areas, he explained, and sections involved extensive land reclamation to shield coastal communities from Atlantic surges.
President Bola Tinubu ordered the inspection following public concerns about flooding, Umahi disclosed. He stressed that the administration backs infrastructure projects that meet global engineering standards while addressing real environmental issues.
Umahi called for stronger ties with Lagos State to build internal drainage networks and service roads connecting neighbouring estates to the highway's drainage systems. He also singled out indiscriminate waste dumping into drainage channels as worsening floods, noting that inspection teams found blocked manholes and culverts along the project.
Rofika Adebukola, director of environmental services at the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, backed the minister's view. She said flooding in Lagos stems from climate change, rising sea levels, rapid city growth and poor drainage management.
The Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway met regulatory standards and involved extensive stakeholder talks before approval, Adebukola told reporters. Officials at Hitech Construction Company, the project contractor, pledged to clear blocked culverts and drainage channels immediately.
Lawmakers who joined the inspection urged residents to stop dumping waste into waterways and back government flood-control efforts across Lagos.
