Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Minister of Works David Umahi have rejected claims that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is responsible for recent flooding in parts of Lagos, describing the allegations as misinformation circulating on social media.

The governor and minister made the clarification during a meeting in Lagos after Umahi visited the state alongside members of the National Assembly to inspect the infrastructure project and address public concerns.

Sanwo-Olu praised the Federal Government’s investment in the coastal highway, describing it as a major infrastructure project capable of improving economic activity and transportation across the country.

“Two years ago, it felt like it was just a political conversation, but today people are already using the road,” the governor said.

He said the project had moved beyond political discussion and had become a visible development initiative with Lagos as one of its earliest beneficiaries.

Addressing concerns about flooding, Sanwo-Olu explained that Lagos’ coastal geography makes some level of flooding unavoidable, especially during periods of intense rainfall.

“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. These are natural occurrences associated with coastal environments across the world,” he said.

The governor noted that Lagos has a unique geographical challenge, with a significant portion of the state covered by water and a growing population placing additional pressure on infrastructure.

He argued that images shared online often create misleading impressions by showing flooding at its peak without reflecting how quickly water levels recede after rainfall.

“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,” Sanwo-Olu added.

The governor identified blocked drainage channels caused by improper waste disposal as one of the major contributors to urban flooding, saying the state government would continue enforcing environmental regulations.

He also disclosed that additional measures were being taken to maintain the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, including the deployment of specialised cleaning equipment to protect the infrastructure.

Umahi said the inspection followed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive after reports emerged online accusing the highway project of causing flooding.

“We were concerned about the negative narrative on social media claiming that the Coastal Highway caused flooding in Lagos. The President directed us to come with members of the National Assembly to assess the situation ourselves,” Umahi said.

The minister described the claims as false and misleading, noting that flooding had affected several states across Nigeria and that warnings had been issued for a number of regions.

He explained that the highway was intentionally constructed at an elevated level to withstand ocean surges and remain protected from flooding for decades.

Umahi added that some areas experiencing flooding were naturally swampy before construction began, warning that structures built below approved flood levels could continue to face challenges regardless of the highway.

He commended Lagos State’s drainage strategy, particularly efforts to direct stormwater into lagoons, and said federal and state authorities would collaborate on additional drainage channels and service roads along the corridor.

The minister also announced plans for additional facilities along the highway, including surveillance systems, wind monitoring stations, parking areas and tourism-related infrastructure.

Also read: NiMet warns of severe flood risk in Lagos, Ogun, 25 states

Both officials said stronger development controls would be maintained around the project corridor to protect the investment and ensure the highway meets international standards.