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By Lawrence Agbo
Dave Umahi, the minister of works, has attributed the recent flooding on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to a blocked drainage channel, claiming it was caused by garbage being disposed of in drainage holes.
Umahi made the statement during a press conference on Thursday that human activity impeding drainage systems, rather than building flaws, was the cause of the flooding.
“The flooding of the coastal highway was because our underground channel was blocked with refuse,” he said.
“This is the basic reason why we even have flooding in most cases in Lagos. Where people carry their daily refuse and then put it inside the manhole.”
He said the issue has worsened due to vandalism along the coastal road and encouraged the public to take responsibility for protecting infrastructure.
“The first we have done to protect the coastal road is being destroyed by people,” he said.
“The green, you know, the barbed wire we put to expose the beauty of the coastal you know, in a number of sections are being caught and taken by people.”
Umahi said that there had also been tampering with strengthening materials that had been placed on portions of the road.
“So there is still three meters to be laid and so there is a connecting bar we call it Dower bars you know and this bar is no more than one meter and people go there and cut it,” he said.
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Citing structural risks to vital infrastructure, the minister issued a warning that illegal mining and sand harvesting operations are causing bridge damage across the country.
“And so what happened to these two bridges? People harvested the sand under,” he said. “And so what is holding the bridges are the sand holding the piles.”
He disclosed that investigations showed illegal miners had tampered with the foundation of bridges and that, due to the declining state of some bridges, one may have to be demolished.
“Just about three months back you know an illegal miner hit the one of the piles and removed the piles,” he said, adding that he “directed for prosecution of that company that did that.
“To the extent that by investigations, by you know the stakeholders meeting, by the experts of consultants, Carter Bridge has to be demolished,” he said.
He warned against trucks parking on important structures, emphasising that highways and bridges are not built to support stationary big loads.
“Roads and bridges are never designed for static loads,” he said. “We’re asking for trouble by allowing you know vehicles and big trucks and small trucks to be parking on our bridges.”
According to Umahi, in an effort to reduce vandalism, the ministry installed CCTV surveillance on significant bridges.
“But thanks to Mr President, who directed me to introduce CCTV on our roads. And that’s why we introduced CCTV on Third Mainland Bridge, and it was very easy for the police in Lagos to catch the vandals,” he said.
