- ’Govt creating Islands to bridge housing deficit‘
The Lagos State government has prosecuted 34 illegal dredgers, it has been learnt.
According to Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ahmed Abdullahi, those prosecuted operated illegal dredging sites and were dredging illegally for reclamation.
Abdullahi said they were arrested and prosecuted by the Task Force on Environment and Special Offences.
The commissioner, during the 2020 ministerial briefing to commemorate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s first year in office, said the ministry has continued to monitor dredging on the Lagos waters to ensure compliance with stipulated Dredging Laws and Health, Safety and Environmental guidelines.
He said: “Illegal dredging within the state’s waters, as enabled by the indiscriminate activities of the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), has continued to cause degradation of the shoreline, road infrastructure and environmental pollution. NIWA’s interference has prevented the ministry from generating adequate revenue from dredging activities within the state.”
Abdullahi urged NIWA to refocus its attention to its primary mandate, which is creating channels for boat navigation on the waterways “as against what it is doing now as land speculators, sand sellers and creating land for property developers”.
The commissioner said the government has embarked on the creation of islands to make world-class cities.
“Besides, the creation of islands was to address housing deficit in the state. To increase land availability for housing development, the ministry continues to explore the Public-Private Partnership to create islands in the state. Some of the islands are Eko Atlantic City Project at Bar Beach, Victoria Island, which is the flagship project. The project is being executed by South Energyx Nigeria Limited. The project is approximately 1,000 hectares of land primarily to protect the whole of Victoria Island and the Lekki peninsula from the ravaging ocean surge.
“The Great Wall, which is the defence against the ocean surge, proposed to be 8.5km in length, is approximately 7.25km completed, remaining approximately 1.25km. Infrastructure works (roads, bridges, canal, storm drains water supply, sewage network, power distribution cables, street lighting) in phases 1 and 2 (half the total project) is 75 per cent completed. The entire project is, however, 67 per cent completed.”
Other islands include Orange Island, Oworonshoki Foreshore, Ostia Island, Kings City Island, FBT Coral Estate, Majidun Awori Island, Gracefield Island and Olumegbon Royal Land (Palaver Yard Extension), Abdullahi said.
