Federal Government Orders Dredging of Kuramo Lagoon to Combat Lagos Fl0oding
Federal Government Orders Dredging of Kuramo Lagoon to Combat Lagos Flooding
The Federal Government has ordered the immediate dredging of the sand-filled Kuramo Lagoon as part of measures to address recurring flooding in parts of Lagos, while maintaining that the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project is not responsible for the recent flooding recorded in affected communities.
Minister of Works David Umahi announced the directive on Monday during an inspection of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.
According to the minister, investigations revealed that Kuramo Lagoon, identified under the Lagos State drainage master plan as a major flood retention basin, had been illegally reclaimed with sand, preventing it from performing its natural drainage function.
Umahi disclosed that the Surveyor-General of the Federation has erected warning signs around the affected area to prevent further encroachment, while the Federal Government has directed that the lagoon be dredged to remove accumulated sand deposits and restore its natural water flow.
Rejecting claims that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway caused flooding in neighbouring communities, the minister insisted that the project has instead improved drainage by providing infrastructure designed to channel stormwater away from vulnerable areas.
“You cannot block the channel and be crying about flooding,” Umahi said, blaming the situation on the obstruction of natural drainage pathways.
He also dismissed allegations linking the highway project to flooding around Alpha Beach, stating that the area had experienced drainage problems long before construction of the coastal highway commenced.
According to the minister, the flooding is largely the result of deficiencies in the original planning and development of the estate, adding that permanent solutions would require expanded drainage infrastructure, the construction of service lanes and, where necessary, the removal of buildings obstructing natural waterways.
“Some buildings must have to go,” he stated.
Umahi further noted that flooding is a nationwide challenge rather than a problem unique to Lagos, citing recent incidents in Adamawa, Bauchi, Niger, Taraba and Delta states as evidence of broader infrastructure and environmental concerns.
As part of efforts to improve maintenance along the highway corridor, the minister directed the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos to deploy 40 personnel on rotational shifts—20 during the day and 20 at night—to monitor culverts, manholes and drainage channels while preventing indiscriminate waste disposal.
“We cannot be manning every manhole; there must be discipline in this country along this corridor,” Umahi said.
The latest intervention forms part of the Federal Government’s broader efforts to strengthen flood control infrastructure and reduce the impact of seasonal flooding across the country.
