The Lagos State Commissioner for the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Improvement, Hon. Ekundayo Alebiosu, has raised issues over the uncontrolled dredging actions in Lagos’ coastal areas.
Dredging is the method of extracting sources like sand and gravel for development from the underside of water our bodies reminiscent of rivers, lakes, lagoons, or seas
The Commissioner issued this warning throughout a current stakeholder discussion board held on the Ministry in Alausa, the place he emphasised the environmental and infrastructural dangers of unsanctioned dredging practices.
Hon. Alebiosu cautioned that improper dredging may lead to extreme ecological and infrastructural injury. Highlighting the depletion of sand reserves within the Lagoon
“There are far larger penalties to indiscriminate dredging than what seems on the floor. We threat saltwater intrusion into the lagoon, which is detrimental to the aquatic ecosystem, significantly fish species.
“Moreover, unauthorised reclamation actions may compromise the State’s Grasp plan. All reclamation tasks should first be accepted by the Ministry of Bodily Planning and City Improvement to make sure compliance with regulatory requirements.”
He defined that the disruption of aquatic life and the ecological stability may have long-term repercussions for the state’s shoreline, infrastructure, and concrete planning efforts.
“We should impose stiffer penalties on perpetrators of unlawful dredging. Lots of them lack understanding of the long-term penalties of their actions. With stricter enforcement measures, we will deter such practices and encourage compliance,” he added.
In a bid to raise Lagos’ waterfront infrastructure to world requirements, Hon. Alebiosu unveiled plans to modernize the state’s jetties and develop new vacationer points of interest.
“Important steps are being taken to modernize our jetties. The intention is to offer them a extra modern and visually interesting design that may enhance tourism and complement Lagos’ standing as a metropolitan metropolis,” Alebiosu said.
He revealed that Lagos is engaged on its first-ever Lagoon-Entrance Seaside, a venture designed to draw world vacationers and compete with locations reminiscent of The Gambia. He additionally assured that the revamped jetties would function modern designs to boost their aesthetic enchantment and performance.
