By Ayoola Ajanaku
The recent flooding incident at Montego Bay 3 Estate in the Lekki axis of Lagos has once again pushed the conversation about urban planning, infrastructure resilience, drainage systems and the controversial Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project into the national spotlight. What should ordinarily have been a seasonal environmental challenge has now evolved into a larger debate about development priorities, engineering standards, environmental sustainability and governance accountability in Nigeria’s commercial capital.
At the centre of the controversy is the question many residents continue to ask: Is the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road contributing to worsening flooding in surrounding communities, or are deeper structural and human factors responsible?
The Federal Government has repeatedly defended the multi-billion-naira coastal highway project, insisting that the road was designed with long-term flood resilience in mind. According to Honourable Minister of Works, David Umahi, the highway is engineered to withstand flooding for up to 50 years, with elevated pavement levels and underground drainage systems incorporated into the design.
Yet, for residents of Montego Bay 3 Estate and neighbouring communities who watched floodwaters overrun streets, homes and access roads after heavy rainfall, such assurances offer little comfort. The optics are troubling, as such flagship federal infrastructure project intended to symbolize modernity and economic transformation now finds itself linked rightly or wrongly to growing public anxiety about environmental disruption.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway itself is one of the most ambitious infrastructure undertakings in Nigeria’s recent history. Stretching approximately 700 kilometres from Lagos to Calabar, the project is expected to traverse several coastal states including Ogun, Ondo, Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom before terminating in Cross River State. Government projections suggest the road will boost tourism, trade, logistics and regional integration while opening up coastal economic corridors.
Advocates of the project see it as transformative and a game changer. Across online forums and public commentary, many Nigerians have described the road as a bold statement of national ambition and long-overdue investment in infrastructure. Some observers argue that if completed successfully, the highway could unlock significant economic opportunities for coastal communities, reduce travel time and stimulate real estate development.
However, critics insist that the flooding episodes reveal deeper concerns about environmental impact assessments, drainage integration and the pace of urban expansion in Lagos. In a city already battling rising sea levels, unchecked sand-filling, poor waste management and overstretched drainage infrastructure, any major coastal development naturally attracts scrutiny.
Government officials have rejected claims that the coastal road construction itself caused the flooding. Authorities insist that blocked underground drainage systems, vandalized infrastructure and indiscriminate refuse disposal are primarily to blame. The Federal Ministry of Works stated that drainage channels designed to evacuate stormwater were obstructed by waste dumped into manholes, while some protective installations and drainage covers had reportedly been vandalized.
There seems to be some truth in the government’s argument, as Lagos has long suffered from a culture of poor waste disposal and weak urban sanitation enforcement. Drainage channels across the city are frequently clogged by plastics, debris and domestic waste. During periods of intense rainfall, blocked waterways inevitably trigger flash flooding.
That explanation alone though may not sufficiently address public concerns. Flooding in rapidly urbanizing coastal cities is rarely caused by a single factor. It is usually the outcome of multiple failures occurring simultaneously via inadequate drainage planning, weak environmental governance, uncontrolled construction, disappearing wetlands and climate-related weather extremes.
In the case of Montego Bay 3 Estate, the flooding should not merely be viewed as an isolated incident, but as a warning signal about the pressures facing Lagos’ fragile coastal ecosystem.
One major issue that deserves attention is the relationship between aggressive infrastructure expansion and natural water channels. Across Lekki, Ibeju-Lekki and adjoining coastal corridors, wetlands and floodplains are increasingly being replaced with estates, roads and commercial developments. Water, however, always seeks an outlet. When natural drainage paths are altered without comprehensive environmental adaptation, surrounding communities often pay the price.
This is why many urban planners argue that infrastructure development must move beyond political symbolism toward integrated environmental planning. Large-scale projects cannot succeed in isolation from surrounding communities. Roads, estates, drainage systems, canals and waste management networks must function as part of a unified urban ecosystem.
There is also the issue of transparency and stakeholder engagement. Since the announcement of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, controversies have followed the project from demolition concerns to questions about planning approvals and environmental implications. Public distrust deepens whenever citizens feel excluded from decisions that directly affect their homes and livelihoods.
The Montego Bay flooding incident therefore presents an opportunity for both the Lagos State Government and the Federal Government to recalibrate their approach. Beyond assigning blame, authorities must prioritize independent environmental audits, strengthen drainage enforcement, improve waste management systems and establish transparent communication channels with affected communities.
More importantly, Lagos must urgently confront the reality that climate change is no longer a distant concept. Rising rainfall intensity, coastal erosion and sea-level threats are becoming increasingly visible across low-lying parts of the state. Infrastructure built today must be adaptable not only to present realities but also to future environmental uncertainties.
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road remains a potentially transformative national project. Few would dispute the economic logic behind improved coastal connectivity.
In a nutshell, infrastructural success should not only be measured by kilometres of concrete laid or commissioning ceremonies held. Its true value lies in whether it improves lives without endangering communities or compromising environmental sustainability.
The flooding at Montego Bay 3 Estate is therefore more than a local incident. It is a reminder that development without careful ecological balance can produce unintended consequences. As Lagos continues its march toward becoming a megacity, the challenge before policymakers is clear: build boldly, but build responsibly.
Ayoola Ajanaku is a Communications and Advocacy Specialist based in Lagos, Nigeria….
