The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has dismissed claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is responsible for the recent flooding experienced in parts of Lagos, attributing the situation instead to poor drainage management and the failure to implement the state's flood control master plan.

Umahi made the remarks on Sunday while inspecting Section Three of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, where he explained that President Bola Tinubu had directed a technical assessment of the coastal highway following public concerns over flooding.

According to the minister, he will lead a team, alongside members of the National Assembly, on an inspection of the highway and surrounding areas to determine the actual cause of the flooding.

He stressed that the purpose of the assessment is not an admission that the highway project caused the flooding but rather to establish the facts through a technical evaluation.

Umahi said preliminary findings indicate that key components of Lagos State's flood management master plan have not been fully implemented.

He explained that several designated drainage channels and lagoons meant to receive excess stormwater have not been properly developed, contributing to the flooding witnessed in affected areas.

The minister also blamed indiscriminate waste disposal by residents for worsening the situation. He lamented the amount of refuse littering roads and drainage systems, noting that blocked waterways significantly reduce the capacity of drainage infrastructure during heavy rainfall.

He urged Nigerians to adopt responsible environmental practices, stressing that protecting public infrastructure is a shared responsibility.

Umahi further commended President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure development across the country, calling on citizens to acknowledge the administration's efforts rather than engage in what he described as unnecessary criticism.

He also praised Hitech Construction Company Ltd., the contractor handling the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway, for the pace and quality of work on the project. According to him, the company has already completed about 10 per cent of the permanent works, describing the progress as impressive.

Addressing issues relating to a proposed flyover, Umahi advised the contractor to focus on its assigned responsibilities, noting that the Ogun State Government should handle its own flyover project. He added that the Federal Government would not take over an existing foundation whose structural integrity could not be guaranteed.

Also speaking during the inspection, Minister of State for Works Bello Muhammad Goronyo expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded on the superhighway project.

Goronyo noted that construction is currently ongoing across six sections of the road and highlighted the significance of the highway, which begins from Illela in Sokoto State, describing it as a major infrastructure project expected to improve connectivity and economic activities across the country.