The Federal Government is set to hold a high-level stakeholders’ meeting on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway as part of efforts to address environmental concerns and strengthen flood management along the project corridor, Peak Newspaper reports.
The engagement, scheduled for Tuesday, will bring together members of the National Assembly Committees on Works, the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Office of the Surveyor-General of the Federation, the Lagos State Government, landlords’ associations, and other key stakeholders.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Works, the meeting follows an inspection tour of the highway by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, alongside federal lawmakers and officials from the Ministry of Environment.
During the inspection, Umahi dismissed claims linking the coastal highway to flooding in parts of Lagos, stating that the project was designed with modern drainage systems, culverts, embankments, and other engineering features to improve stormwater evacuation and reduce flooding.
The minister attributed persistent flooding in affected communities to indiscriminate refuse dumping, blocked drainage channels and manholes, as well as violations of environmental regulations by some residents.
He disclosed that the Federal Government was collaborating with the Lagos State Government on dredging and other environmental remediation measures while warning that structures obstructing drainage channels or encroaching on the approved right-of-way would be removed.
To safeguard the completed sections of the highway, Umahi directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State to enforce environmental safety standards and announced the recruitment of 40 security personnel to monitor the road, prevent vandalism, and discourage illegal refuse dumping.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (South-West), Moremi Ojudu, urged residents to support environmental protection efforts.
