₦airaland Forum

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, and David Umahi, minister of works, have dismissed claims that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal highway is responsible for flooding in parts of the state.

The duo spoke on Monday during a courtesy visit by the minister and members of the national assembly to the Lagos governor.

Umahi said President Bola Tinubu directed an inspection of the project following reports on social media alleging that the highway had triggered flooding in Lagos.

Severe flooding caused by days of persistent rainfall has inundated roads, homes and vehicles across parts of Lagos, with some residents attributing the situation to the ongoing Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

However, the minister of works described the claims as false, noting that flooding had been recorded in several parts of Nigeria and had already been forecast in at least 22 states across the country.

“We were concerned about the negative narrative on social media claiming that the coastal highway caused flooding in Lagos,” Umahi said.

The president directed us to come with members of the national assembly to assess the situation ourselves.”

He noted that the highway was intentionally elevated to withstand ocean surges and protect the corridor from flooding for the next two to three decades.

He added that the affected communities were swampy before construction began, arguing that buildings erected below approved flood levels would remain vulnerable regardless of the highway project.

The minister commended the Lagos government’s drainage master plan, noting that more than 80 percent of the drainage channels leading into lagoons had been completed.

He said the federal and Lagos governments would collaborate on additional drainage infrastructure and service lanes along the highway corridor, adding that some structures would have to be removed to accommodate the projects.

Umahi added that stakeholders’ engagements would be held with affected residents, while modern facilities such as surveillance cameras, wind stations, parking areas and tourism infrastructure would also be developed along the corridor.

‘LAGOS IS A COASTAL CITY’

Speaking during the visit, Sanwo-Olu said flooding in Lagos is largely a consequence of the state’s coastal geography rather than the ongoing highway construction.

He said Lagos occupies less than 0.4 percent of Nigeria’s landmass, with about one-third of the state covered by water, making seasonal flooding an environmental reality.

The governor said heavy rainfall could temporarily overwhelm drainage systems but noted that floodwaters often recede after a short period.

“Lagos is a coastal city. When people say Lagos has flooded, without mincing words, we will always experience some level of flooding. We only pray that it will not be severe,” he said.

He accused some social media users of circulating images taken during peak flooding to create a misleading impression of the situation.

The governor also blamed indiscriminate waste disposal for worsening flooding, saying blocked drainage channels remain one of the leading causes of urban floods in the state.

He said the state government would continue enforcing environmental regulations, including its ban on styrofoam, while introducing additional measures to protect drainage infrastructure.

“We cannot allow social media to define who we are. That does not mean we ignore our challenges. Whenever there are problems, we must confront them and solve them, but we must also understand the realities of our environment,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu noted that the state had begun a clean-up of the Lagos-Badagry expressway and signed an agreement with a mechanised street-cleaning company to deploy six-lane sweeping machines for the daily maintenance of the coastal highway.

He added that service roads would be constructed alongside the highway to improve access for residents and businesses, although some properties would have to be removed to make way for the infrastructure.

The governor commended the federal government for the coastal highway project, describing it as a transformative investment that would boost economic growth and improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

greatiyk4u:
Whoever is expecting them to say otherwise is a capital Novice

CharlesCNG:
What kind of desperate politics weaponises human disaster just to score cheap points?

So because Lagos experienced flooding, some people have suddenly concluded that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway caused it. By that logic, did the coastal highway also cause the recent floods in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and other parts of West Africa?

Across West Africa, the current flooding pattern has been linked to torrential rainfall, climate pressure, rapid urbanisation, poor drainage, blocked waterways, waste dumping and settlements around flood-prone areas.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire recently recorded deadly floods after days of heavy rain, with authorities and climate experts pointing to extreme rainfall and urban drainage problems, not any Lagos coastal road.

Even in Lagos, the explanation is not mysterious. The Works Minister has blamed blocked drainage channels, illegal encroachment on natural waterways, poor drainage infrastructure, indiscriminate waste disposal and long-standing environmental problems.


Now, if someone wants to argue that the coastal highway worsened flooding in a specific location, fine. Bring hydrological evidence.

Show the natural water path that was blocked. Show the before-and-after drainage design. Show the engineering report. Show the exact section where the road obstructed stormwater flow.

But don’t see flood in rainy season and immediately shout “Tinubu road.”

That is not environmental analysis.

That is opposition rain-making.

Flooding in Lagos is not new. Flooding in West Africa is not new. Heavy rainfall, clogged drains, low-lying coastal geography, bad urban planning and blocked waterways have been causing floods long before the coastal highway entered the conversation.

So let us sympathise with victims, demand proper drainage, insist on environmental safeguards and hold contractors accountable where evidence exists.

But weaponising flood tragedy with lazy propaganda is shameful.

greatiyk4u:
If they can show the public the EIA report of that project, all these epistle of yours ain't necessary..........that's the importance of it in project planning and execution.....

This is a technical and professional case not a political and social media topic of discussion

CharlesCNG:
What kind of desperate politics weaponises human disaster just to score cheap points?

So because Lagos experienced flooding, some people have suddenly concluded that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway caused it. By that logic, did the coastal highway also cause the recent floods in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and other parts of West Africa?

Across West Africa, the current flooding pattern has been linked to torrential rainfall, climate pressure, rapid urbanisation, poor drainage, blocked waterways, waste dumping and settlements around flood-prone areas.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire recently recorded deadly floods after days of heavy rain, with authorities and climate experts pointing to extreme rainfall and urban drainage problems, not any Lagos coastal road.

Even in Lagos, the explanation is not mysterious. The Works Minister has blamed blocked drainage channels, illegal encroachment on natural waterways, poor drainage infrastructure, indiscriminate waste disposal and long-standing environmental problems.


Now, if someone wants to argue that the coastal highway worsened flooding in a specific location, fine. Bring hydrological evidence.

Show the natural water path that was blocked. Show the before-and-after drainage design. Show the engineering report. Show the exact section where the road obstructed stormwater flow.

But don’t see flood in rainy season and immediately shout “Tinubu road.”

That is not environmental analysis.

That is opposition rain-making.

Flooding in Lagos is not new. Flooding in West Africa is not new. Heavy rainfall, clogged drains, low-lying coastal geography, bad urban planning and blocked waterways have been causing floods long before the coastal highway entered the conversation.

So let us sympathise with victims, demand proper drainage, insist on environmental safeguards and hold contractors accountable where evidence exists.

But weaponising flood tragedy with lazy propaganda is shameful.

CharlesCNG:
What kind of desperate politics weaponises human disaster just to score cheap points?

So because Lagos experienced flooding, some people have suddenly concluded that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway caused it. By that logic, did the coastal highway also cause the recent floods in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and other parts of West Africa?

Across West Africa, the current flooding pattern has been linked to torrential rainfall, climate pressure, rapid urbanisation, poor drainage, blocked waterways, waste dumping and settlements around flood-prone areas.

Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire recently recorded deadly floods after days of heavy rain, with authorities and climate experts pointing to extreme rainfall and urban drainage problems, not any Lagos coastal road.

Even in Lagos, the explanation is not mysterious. The Works Minister has blamed blocked drainage channels, illegal encroachment on natural waterways, poor drainage infrastructure, indiscriminate waste disposal and long-standing environmental problems.


Now, if someone wants to argue that the coastal highway worsened flooding in a specific location, fine. Bring hydrological evidence.

Show the natural water path that was blocked. Show the before-and-after drainage design. Show the engineering report. Show the exact section where the road obstructed stormwater flow.

But don’t see flood in rainy season and immediately shout “Tinubu road.”

That is not environmental analysis.

That is opposition rain-making.

Flooding in Lagos is not new. Flooding in West Africa is not new. Heavy rainfall, clogged drains, low-lying coastal geography, bad urban planning and blocked waterways have been causing floods long before the coastal highway entered the conversation.

So let us sympathise with victims, demand proper drainage, insist on environmental safeguards and hold contractors accountable where evidence exists.

But weaponising flood tragedy with lazy propaganda is shameful.

greatiyk4u:
Whoever is expecting them to say otherwise is a capital Novice

Umahi is know for Misplaced Priority when it comes to project choice and timing.........

This was how he wasted Ebonyi resources on under used infrastructure and even idle ones when the people needed human capital development........

Of what use is coastal and super highway road, bridges and airports to a hungry man?

We need great Managers of men and materials at the helms of affairs for the country to progress

CharlesCNG:
What kind of desperate politics weaponises human disaster just to score cheap points?
So because Lagos experienced flooding, some people have suddenly concluded that the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway caused it. By that logic, did the coastal highway also cause the recent floods in Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Benin and other parts of West Africa?
Across West Africa, the current flooding pattern has been linked to torrential rainfall, climate pressure, rapid urbanisation, poor drainage, blocked waterways, waste dumping and settlements around flood-prone areas.
Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire recently recorded deadly floods after days of heavy rain, with authorities and climate experts pointing to extreme rainfall and urban drainage problems, not any Lagos coastal road.
Even in Lagos, the explanation is not mysterious. The Works Minister has blamed blocked drainage channels, illegal encroachment on natural waterways, poor drainage infrastructure, indiscriminate waste disposal and long-standing environmental problems.
Now, if someone wants to argue that the coastal highway worsened flooding in a specific location, fine. Bring hydrological evidence.
Show the natural water path that was blocked. Show the before-and-after drainage design. Show the engineering report. Show the exact section where the road obstructed stormwater flow.
But don’t see flood in rainy season and immediately shout “Tinubu road.”
That is not environmental analysis.
That is opposition rain-making.
Flooding in Lagos is not new. Flooding in West Africa is not new. Heavy rainfall, clogged drains, low-lying coastal geography, bad urban planning and blocked waterways have been causing floods long before the coastal highway entered the conversation.
So let us sympathise with victims, demand proper drainage, insist on environmental safeguards and hold contractors accountable where evidence exists.

But weaponising flood tragedy with lazy propaganda is shameful.

anonimi:
What group of politicians is more wicked than A-looter Propaganda Conmen, APC


https://x.com/BusinessDayNg/status/1554497253158658049


How we brought In Fulani militias from Mali, Sierra Leone, Senegal, others to win 2015 election — Kawu Baraje - mailchi.mp/businessday.ng…

Aug 2, 2022

Bluntemperor:
*Attention - Governor Sanwo-Olu And Hon. Umahi:
• The Abysmal IKORODU - ITOKIN ROAD 🛣️.
-Recently,we were passing through Garage to Agbowa axis and We discovered Some Abnormality Of Road Construction here 🏗️🚧😳.
-From Itamaga to -Luck Fibres - the Road being Done is the Worst Construction Works •- As there are No Standards Being Maintained here:
•- Is this a Palliative Or Real Construction that will Last 50 Years?
- Why Are this Road is being Staged-Managed Or because of the Election that is Coming and is being Done At Night 🌃.
•- Who Are The Road Contractors- Is Not on Display and it Seems People are Playing Pranks here-;for looking Closely - the Road being Constructed - Is Already Peeling - just After a Week!
•- this Road Supposed To Be a Concrete - because of the soil- Topography,
So Why Are the Contractors Using Asphalt that will Not Last ?
• This Road is about 35- Kilometers- from IKORODU Garage to ITOKIN -yet the Local Contractors - Doing A Road that Awolowo Constructed Year before Now- that has lasted Decades,So Why Are We like this ?
•- the Road Withessed -Heavy Duty Trucks,BRT Vehicles,etc and you are putting Asphalt - that is so glaring that it would soon be back to the same -Bad Road - with Port Holes Everywhere,so you Urgently Needs to Stop it or Called the Contractor to Order - to do a Good Job.
•Governor Sanwo-Olu And
•Lagos Legislatures - Go And Inspect this Road Yourself and See things For Yourself!
God Bless Lagos State.

anonimi:
Ratio of public to private schools in Lagos State is one to 22 ― Commissioner
September 4, 2022

The Lagos State government has said the ratio of public to private schools at both primary and secondary school levels in the state is one to 22.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs Folasade Adefisayo, gave the revelation in her remark at the 2022 edition of the Total School Support Seminar Exhibition (TOSSE) held at Oregun in Ikeja between Thursday and Friday.

https://tribuneonlineng.com/ratio-of-public-to-private-schools-in-lagos-state-is-one-to-22-%E2%80%95-commissioner/

HacheNoire:
That area is already submerged and a road demanded high levels. It did not create the flooding but only compounded the pre existing situation.

Anyone familiar with that area knows it’s a swimming pool during heavy downpour.

anonimi:
In summary Tinubu's olodo rising gang of clueless progreThief clowns made things worse