Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has dismissed social media reports claiming that there are no drainage systems on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway under construction.
The minister dismissed the claims yesterday during a tour of the highway and some bridges in Lagos State. He said that the project included 750km of dual underground drainage systems.
“People say there is no drainage system. I don’t know why people delight in false information, but it is very damaging.
“We have 750km of underground drainage system in two, which is 1500 km. You can see the pipes,” Umahi said.
He praised Hitech Construction Ltd., the contractor handling the project, and the project supervisors for ensuring the safety and durability of the coastal highway.
He maintained that the highway is a major infrastructure project designed to connect Lagos to Calabar, passing through nine coastal states.
The highway construction began in March 2024, with the first phase covering 47.47km within Lagos.
The Minister also stressed that the project will feature a six-lane highway, concrete construction with a flood-resistant design, and solar-powered streetlights.
It will also feature a train system, modern toll gates, and closed-circuit television surveillance.
The Minister also faulted the distortions of his presentation at the Federal Executive Council on Third Mainland and Carter bridges in Lagos.
Umahi explained that both Third Mainland and Carter Bridges have been under technical review since 2013, stressing that saltwater penetration, illegal sand mining, and pile rusting have worsened the structural defects.
He stated that Technical inspections of Lagos bridges in 2013, 2019, and 2023 showed alarming deterioration of the underdeck infrastructure, adding that specialists, contractors, and consultants reported that Carter Bridge’s defects were advancing exponentially.
He said misrepresentations led to speculations and even ridicule, including songs mocking him.
