The perennial flooding in different parts of Lagos State, particularly on island, is largely a consequence of its coastal geography and low-lying terrain, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said, dismissing claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project was responsible for the flooding.
Speaking while hosting the David Umahi, Minister of Works, and members of the National Assembly during an inspection of the multi-billion-naira coastal highway project, Sanwo-Olu said flooding was a natural occurrence in coastal cities around the world.
“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,” the governor said, on Monday, at Lagos House, Marina.
He explained that Lagos’ geographical characteristics make seasonal flooding almost inevitable, noting that the state occupies less than 0.4 per cent of Nigeria’s landmass, while nearly one-third of its territory is covered by water. According to him, rapid population growth has also placed increasing pressure on the state’s land and infrastructure.
