Legislators maintain that the Coastal Highway is not to blame for the flooding issues in Lagos.

Senator Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, and several National Assembly members conducted an inspection tour of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on Monday, alongside Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Mr Allwell Onyesoh.

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During the tour, Onyesoh commended President Bola Tinubu and Minister Umahi for their prompt response to the flooding allegedly linked to the highway's construction, praising their swift action in addressing the issue.

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Onyesoh noted that Umahi had organized a stakeholders' meeting earlier that day to discuss solutions to the flooding, and had also directed the deployment of 40 youths to monitor the highway and prevent vandalism and misuse.

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The senator explained that experts had presented a seminar with diagrams, illustrating the geographical position and weather patterns of Lagos, and emphasizing that the city's flooding issues predated the current government, dating back to colonial times.

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Onyesoh argued that the flooding around the coastal highway should not be attributed to the road itself, citing the natural movement of floodwater from the ocean as evidence that the water would still flow into the area even without the highway.

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The senator also pointed out that flooding is a global issue, not unique to Nigeria, and expressed his appreciation for Minister Umahi's timely response to the situation, saying "I am impressed, your response is timely".

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Meanwhile, Mr Akin Alabi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, also praised President Tinubu and Minister Umahi for their prompt responses to the flooding, urging journalists and social media influencers to practice responsible journalism and only publish verified reports.

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Alabi cautioned against making broad assumptions without consulting experts, emphasizing the importance of verified information and responsible reporting, especially when it comes to sensitive issues like flooding.

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Senate Deputy Chief Whip, Sen. Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, also commended President Tinubu and Minister Umahi for their quick response to the flooding, stating that the coastal highway is not the cause of the flooding in Lagos.

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Nwaebonyi recommended that the Lagos State Government collaborate with environmental experts to control the flooding, and advised residents to keep drainage channels and waterways clear to prevent exacerbating the issue.

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The senator attributed the flooding in part to human actions, such as blocking drainage channels, and assured Nigerians that Minister Umahi is capable of addressing the country's infrastructure challenges.