Follow Us on Google
By Chukwuma Umeorah and Faheem Lawal
Minister of Works, David Umahi, has dismissed claims that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway caused recent flooding in parts of Lagos, attributing the situation instead to poor drainage infrastructure, failure to implement the state’s drainage master plan, and indiscriminate dumping of refuse into waterways.
Umahi spoke on Sunday during an inspection of the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway project, where he described allegations linking the coastal highway to the flooding as technically unfounded.
According to him, Lagos State law does not permit surface water to be discharged directly into the Atlantic Ocean without proper drainage channels, making it incorrect to conclude that the federal road project was responsible for the flooding. “You have to ask yourself whether there was drain-off of the surroundings into the ocean,” he said.
The minister disclosed that despite his confidence that the highway was not responsible, a technical team would inspect the project corridor and surrounding areas the following day on the directive of President Bola Tinubu. He said the exercise was intended to establish the facts surrounding the flooding and not because the ministry believed the road project had contributed to it.
Umahi also blamed residents who dump refuse into drainage channels and build structures on natural waterways, saying such practices had worsened flooding across the state. He further argued that the Lagos State Government had yet to fully implement the drainage points contained in its master plan, contributing to the recurring flooding experienced in several parts of the state.
On the progress of federal road projects, the minister commended contractor HITECH Construction Company for maintaining what he described as uniform construction standards across project locations in Lagos, Calabar, Akwa Ibom, Kebbi, Sokoto and Badagry.
He credited the Tinubu administration with accelerating delivery of long-delayed infrastructure projects across the country. Umahi also warned contractors handling federal road projects against diverting government funds without corresponding progress on site.
He said “the ministry would not hesitate to prosecute any contractor found guilty of mismanaging project funds.” He added that the Federal Ministry of Works would concentrate on road construction and service lanes at one bridge location currently under discussion, while any flyover component would be the responsibility of the relevant state government.
The minister also revealed that the Federal Government had recently flagged off major road projects in Plateau and Borno states, including the Bama and Dikwa roads, noting that the projects form part of broader efforts to improve access and strengthen security along the Chad and Cameroon border corridor.
Providing an update on the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, Engineer-in-Charge of the project, Oyewande Aliu, said substantial progress had been made on the 162.352-kilometre alignment. “We have done about 25 kilometres on the left-hand side and a little bit shy of 10 kilometres on the right-hand side.”
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator, Allwell Onyesoh, commended President Tinubu for appointing the current leadership of the Ministry of Works. “I want to thank him again for bringing Mr. Minister for Works and his Minister for State in the same ministry.”
He also praised HITECH for the quality of its work, saying the company had established a strong reputation beyond Nigeria. On the economic impact of infrastructure, Onyesoh said government creates conditions for economic growth through investments in public infrastructure rather than direct distribution of food.
“Nigerians are complaining hunger, hunger, hunger, hunger, the government does not feed anybody. They create an enabling environment.”
Minister of State for Works, Barrister Bello Muhammad Goronyo, also expressed satisfaction with the pace of work on the Sokoto-Badagry Super Highway, saying construction activities were progressing simultaneously across six sections.” They are working in six sections. They have achieved almost 30 kilometers CRCV and of course they are achieving 70 to 80 kilometers on stone beads and stabilization.”
He listed several contractors currently executing projects in Sokoto State. Goronyo also defended the quality of roads being constructed under the current administration. “he is building road for eternity, 50 years or more.”
