The Federal Government has announced plans to integrate internal drainage systems and service lanes along specific sections of the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway. This infrastructure modification aims to mitigate the severe seasonal flooding affecting several residential communities located along the construction corridor. Minister of Works, David Umahi, made this disclosure during a comprehensive assessment tour of Section One of the mega road project, following directives from President Bola Tinubu to investigate public concerns raised over environmental impacts.
During the joint inspection with federal lawmakers, environmental consultants, and construction partners, officials observed that the current flooding problems stem largely from human interference rather than the road design itself. Technical evaluations revealed that numerous natural drainage channels and critical water retention basins, including parts of the Kuramo Lagoon, had been systematically reclaimed through illegal sand-filling. Consequently, the Ministry of Works has halted these unauthorized reclamation activities and ordered dredging operations to restore the natural carrying capacity of the waterways.
The administration dismissed online claims blaming the new arterial route for recent ecological disruptions, clarifying that structural challenges in nearby estates predate the highway project. At Alpha Beach, engineering assessments indicated that many residential foundations were built below proper flood-level projections without adequate environmental impact consideration. To create functional access and proper water channeling, the government will deploy strategically positioned culverts, though the addition of these necessary service roads may require removing certain structures encroaching on the right-of-way.
To ensure fairness, the federal authorities are collaborating with the Lagos State Government to verify property approvals, pledging that equitable compensation will be paid to valid property owners where displacement is unavoidable. Meanwhile, infrastructure experts defended the ongoing shoreline protection works being executed by the contractor, comparing the reclamation method to the successful model used for Eko Atlantic City. This specialized engineering approach is expected to shield vulnerable communities from escalating coastal erosion, ocean surges, and rising sea levels.
