By LYDIA CHIGOZIE-NGWAKWE

The Federal Government has said that flooding recorded on a section of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway after Tuesday’s rainfall was caused by vandalism and indiscriminate dumping of refuse.

The government said that the flooding was not due a construction failure.

The Federal Controller of Works in Lagos State, Mr Olufemi Dare, said this while addressing journalists on Wednesday in Lagos.

He said that videos circulating on social media suggesting that the flooding was due to construction defects were misleading.

He noted that the highway was designed with an underground drainage system, including 1.2m diameter pipes capable of channelling storm water from one end of the road to the other.

According to him, the drainage system has reinforced concrete manhole covers strong enough to withstand vehicular and human traffic.

“What we have here is not a construction error. It is man-made. Vandals remove the concrete manhole covers, break them and take away the iron reinforcements to sell.

“After removing the covers, some people dump refuse inside the manholes, thereby blocking the drainage system.

“When rain falls, the water cannot pass through, and it results in flooding,” he said.

Dare said the vandalism was widespread, noting that manhole covers had been removed from Eko Atlantic through the entire stretch of the road.

He added that about 50 steel sections of the see-through fence on the corridor were stolen overnight, while seven steel traffic signs were also recently removed.

He described the development as unfortunate, adding that the coastal highway was a major investment by the Federal Government and must be protected.

The controller said that officials of the Hitech Construction Company, the contractor, worked until about 10 p.m. on Tuesday to clear refuse from the blocked drainage to restore free flow of water.

On security, Dare said the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State had deployed a large number of personnel to the corridor.

He said that efforts were ongoing to clear shanties and illegal structures around the Rainoil and Marwa Junction axis, which were identified as areas where hoodlums operated.

According to him, security agencies, including a task force and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, will intensify operations in the area to address criminal activities.

He also reiterated that commercial motorcycling remained banned on the highway, warning that vehicles driving against traffic risked arrest.

“If we do not take drastic steps, we will not move forward. Coastal highway is a super highway, and such violations will not be tolerated,” he said.

Dare noted that the road was still under construction and was temporarily opened in December by the Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, to ease traffic during the Yuletide season.

He noted that the drainage system was designed to channel water into designated canals approved by the Lagos State Government.

Meanwhile, the controller announced that the annual Access Bank Marathon would hold on the Coastal Highway on Saturday.

He said the road would be completely closed to traffic from midnight on Friday until 12:30 p.m. on Saturday.

“There will be total closure. All access points will be blocked. Motorists are advised to plan ahead,” he said.

Dare added that the minister of works would visit the project site on Friday to assess the situation and give further directives. (NAN, excluding headline)

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