Coastal Highway Flooding Linked to Vandalism, FG Clarifies
The Federal Government has attributed the flooding seen on parts of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after Tuesday’s rainfall to deliberate human interference with the road’s drainage system.
Speaking in Lagos, the Federal Controller of Works, Olufemi Dare, said the incident was not a result of poor engineering but the consequence of vandalised infrastructure and blocked underground channels.
He explained that the highway was constructed with a large underground storm-water system made up of wide pipes designed to move water efficiently across the corridor and into approved canals.
According to him, the problem arose after vandals removed protective concrete covers placed over drainage openings and carted away the iron materials embedded in them.
He noted that once the covers were removed, refuse was dumped into the exposed openings, obstructing the flow of rainwater and leading to surface flooding.
Dare said the damage was noticed along several points of the stretch, beginning from the Eko Atlantic axis and extending across the project route.
He added that theft along the highway was not limited to drainage covers, as portions of the steel fencing and some traffic signs were also removed overnight.
The controller stressed that the situation undermines a critical federal project intended to improve transportation and connectivity.
He disclosed that engineers from the construction firm handling the project worked late into the night clearing waste from the drainage points to restore proper water movement.
To prevent a repeat, the Lagos State Police Command has increased patrols along the corridor, while authorities have begun removing makeshift structures around identified trouble spots.
Dare said security agencies and a joint task team would intensify monitoring of the area to check criminal activities linked to the vandalism.
He also reminded road users that commercial motorcycles are not permitted on the highway and warned that driving against traffic would attract enforcement action.
The controller clarified that the highway remains under construction and was only opened temporarily during the festive period to reduce traffic pressure in the city.
He maintained that the drainage system was carefully designed to work with Lagos State’s approved water channels and was not a structural failure.
Meanwhile, Dare announced that the Access Bank Marathon will be held on the highway on Saturday, requiring a complete closure of the route from midnight on Friday until early afternoon.
Motorists were advised to make alternative travel plans as no entry points will be accessible during the marathon.
He further revealed that the Minister of Works is scheduled to inspect the project site to review the situation and provide additional directives.