Ayodele Olalere
Lagos State government through the Honourable Commissioner for Waterfront, Arch. Kabiru Abdullahi, has sought for the collaboration with the Federal Government to mitigate the effects of erosion as well as protect the coastline in the state.
The Commissioner, who sought for the collaboration and made the appeal on Wednesday at the Year 2020 Ministerial Press Briefing in commemoration of the First Year in Office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, held at the JJT Park in Alausa, Ikeja, said erosion is having negative impact on the state.
“The erosion of Lagos coastline is a direct impact of the construction of the Eastern and Western Moles by the Federal Government as far back as 1912 to provide safe access for vessels coming into the Lagos harbour. This has put a heavy financial burden on the state with regards to the protection of its coastline”, Abdullahi said.
He also urged the National Inland Waterways Authority, NIWA, to create channels for boat navigation on the waterways and stop enabling illegal dredging activities, stressing that the agency needs to support Lagos in preventing the degradation of Lagos shoreline, road infrastructure and halting environmental pollution.
“NIWA should refocus its attention on its primary mandate, which is to create channels for boat navigation on the Waterways, instead of acting as land speculators among others,” he said.
He further stated that a total of 34 dredgers operating illegally were arrested and prosecuted by the State Taskforce on Environment and Special Offences during the period under review.