The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has attributed the recent flooding along sections of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to the non-implementation of Lagos State's flood management master plan and indiscriminate waste disposal by residents.
Speaking during an inspection of Section Three of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway on Sunday, Umahi said the Federal Government would conduct a technical assessment of the coastal highway and its surrounding areas on Tuesday, following a directive from President Bola Tinubu.
According to the minister, the inspection, which will involve members of the National Assembly, is intended to evaluate the flooding situation and determine appropriate engineering solutions.
Umahi stressed that the flooding was not caused by the ongoing highway construction, noting that investigations revealed that key elements of Lagos State's flood control master plan, including designated drainage channels leading to lagoons, had not been fully implemented.
He also blamed indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels for worsening flooding across the state, urging residents to adopt responsible environmental practices.
"The country belongs to all of us, and we all have a responsibility to protect public infrastructure by keeping drainage channels free of waste," he said.
The minister commended President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure development across the country and urged Nigerians to appreciate ongoing efforts rather than engage in what he described as destructive criticism.
Umahi also praised Hitech Construction Company Limited, the contractor handling the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, for the pace and quality of work, stating that about 10 per cent of the permanent works had already been completed.
He advised the contractor to focus on the assigned project, noting that any flyover to be constructed by the Ogun State Government should remain the state's responsibility, as the Federal Government could not assume responsibility for an existing foundation whose structural integrity had not been verified.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded on the highway project, describing it as a major infrastructure initiative that would stimulate economic growth, enhance agricultural activities and create employment opportunities.
He reiterated that road infrastructure serves as a catalyst for development and commended President Tinubu for his commitment to improving Nigeria's transport network.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, described the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway as a landmark national project and urged continued support for the administration's infrastructure agenda. He also encouraged the contractor to sustain the momentum on the project.
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