Lagos State Government has stepped up efforts to regulate sand dredging, tackle flooding and improve the management of its waterfronts and waterways.
The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, disclosed this during an interaction with journalists in Maryland, Lagos.
He said the state was adopting a data-driven and preventive approach to flood management, stressing that the focus should not only be on whether flooding occurs but also on how quickly floodwater drains after rainfall.
According to him, the government is working to identify the root causes of water accumulation and implement interventions before problems worsen.
On dredging, Bush-Alebiosu said effective management of Lagos’ aquatic resources required accurate information on the quantity of sand in its waterways, locations where dredging was taking place and the destinations of excavated materials.
He said the ministry was conducting studies and collecting data to provide a scientific basis for decisions on dredging, reclamation and waterfront development.
The commissioner expressed concern over the activities of some sand-mining operators, particularly around the Lagos airport, where he said extensive excavation had left large craters and degraded sections of land.
He said drone footage covering about five kilometres of the airport area revealed large excavated sites that had not been properly restored.
Bush-Alebiosu said operators were expected to manage excavated materials appropriately and restore sites after completing their activities, warning that the cost of rehabilitating abandoned sites could be substantial.
He also linked some premature road failures to dredging and sand-mining activities, noting that some roads designed to last for decades had deteriorated in less than 10 years because of activities around them.
The commissioner acknowledged that overlapping responsibilities among the Ministries of Environment, Lands and Physical Planning had previously slowed waterfront management, but said the agencies were now working more closely together.
He expressed optimism that the proposed Lagoon Authority and Lagoon Policy could now move forward following a Supreme Court judgment clarifying the respective responsibilities of the federal and state governments over waterways.
On reclamation projects, Bush-Alebiosu said the state was reviewing approvals issued to companies that had failed to commence projects for between three and five years.
He added that dredging activities around bridges and other sensitive locations would be investigated to establish their safety before projects were allowed to proceed.
The commissioner said the government’s investment in jetties and waterfront infrastructure was also aimed at expanding water transportation, reducing pressure on roads and lowering the cost of moving goods.
He cited a new jetty project expected to serve Bariga, Gbagada, Maryland, Anthony, Ketu and Shomolu, with an estimated water journey of between 12 and 15 minutes.
Bush-Alebiosu said the ministry had also begun renovating inherited jetties, with emphasis on accessibility, location and functionality.
Defending the pace of the projects, he said his approach was to ensure that infrastructure was properly planned and sustainable rather than rushing projects to completion.
He assured residents that the ministry would continue working with relevant stakeholders to maximise Lagos’ land and water resources for transportation, economic development, environmental protection and sustainable benefits.