Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has dismissed reports claiming the construction of the Coastal Road is the cause of the heavy flooding being experienced in the state.
Some residents of the state have said they now experience flooding like they have never experienced. Some analysts claimed that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal road by the Tinubu administration blocked some channels of water and increased the risk of the state suffering severe flooding.
Dismissing such claims, Governor Sanwo-Olu said that, by virtue of its coastal geography, Lagos would always experience some level of flooding during heavy rainfall.
“Lagos is a coastal city. When people say Lagos has flooded, without mincing words, we will always experience some level of flooding. We only pray that it will not be severe. These are natural occurrences associated with coastal environments across the world,” Governor Sanwo-Olu said during a courtesy visit from Minister of Works, Dave Umahi
He explained that intense rainfall could temporarily overwhelm drainage systems but noted that floodwaters often recede after some time. hE accused some social media users of creating misleading impressions by sharing images captured at the height of flooding without showing the situation after the water had subsided.
Sanwo-Olu blamed indiscriminate refuse disposal for worsening flooding, saying blocked drainage channels remained one of the major causes of urban flooding.