Residents Of Tolu Raise Alarm On Dredging Activities At Port Novo Creek, Says Coconut Bridge At Risk

Residents of Tolu riverine community , Olodi Apapa , Lagos State,  have raised the alarm over the constant dredging of  Port Novo creek opposite Tin Can Island Port, saying the action of the contractor would lead to possible collapse of the Coconut bridge linking the seaport.

 

The host community lamented that the constant dredging would also lead to flooding which in turn will affect educational , revenue drive of the government , customs operations and sporting activities.

 

According to them, if not should continue, there are indications that the popular Tolu Complex,  warehousing twelve secondary schools and the Maracana stadium (uncompleted) might be swept away by flood,  adding that both the Western Marine Command of the Nigeria Customs Service and Coconut bridge will be affected significantly.

 

The community leaders queried government at state and federal levels over the approval of the contractor’s  actions in the dredging exercise which has been ongoing since 2021.

 

They expressed worries that the situation if not discontinued by relevant authorities pose serious dangers to residents of the community mostly during the rainy season.

 

 

Oba of Tolu Community, Prince Ayade Abayomi who spoke with our correspondent exclusively over the weekend, noted that moves are ongoing to know if the contractor of the dredging site has the requisite documents of permits to execute the project.

 

Prince Abayomi reiterated that “We are not happy with the situation because there is no how they should embark on that dredging and not inform us. There is no how they will continue this dredging without affecting our community.

 

“Look at the Coconut bridge also, as time goes on water will definitely fine its level and we are aware that private companies are involved in the sand filling across the coastal area but they should go and buy sand for their project and not use the water as their source because of the looming danger.

 

“Any moment from now, we are going to involve both the local and state governments on this issues because its a menace to our society. Speaking with the press is just the starting point.

 

“If they see it and read it they will realise that something is wrong somewhere.

 

According to him, a meeting was held but did not yield any positive result to stop the dredging activities.

 

 

Elder Ogunlana Jimoh , a native of Ibeshe and Awori , called on the government to intervene in furtherance to halt the dredging exercise along the waterfront.

 

Ogunlana threatened to engage the services of lawyer to halt the dredging activities if all engagement with relevant government authorities fail.

 

Ogunlana who is a “Balogun” in the community, recalled that authorities of the Local Government attempted to dredge from the waterfront during the construction of the Maracana stadium last year but was halted  due to the danger inherent.

 

He said that the bridge already has cracks all over the pillars adding that the ministry of environment will  be involved to ascertain the level of damage the dredging activities might cause to the community.

 

 

While expressing worries about the danger of the dredging on the bridge, a transporter, Alhaji Inuwa Abdullahi said  urgent steps must be taken by government to stop the contractor from further damages on the Coconut bridge; and the community.

 

He recalled how millions of naira was expended to repair the bridge by the government thus another looming danger on the bridge.

 

Inuwa who is a stalwart of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) affirmed that “The bridge is at risk because erosion is gradually taking its toll on the bridge.

 

“If the bridge should collapse anytime from now because of the dredging then the  nation’s economy will be in jeopardy knowing fully well that coconut bridge is connected to the two major ports in Nigeria.”

 

While reaction on the dredging activities, Contractor in charge, Mr Ben Osade, when contacted via the telephone , opined that owners of site might have obtained the necessary documents before the commencement of the port .

 

The contractor who declined to reveal owners of the site and that of his company , maintained that the site need constant channelisation and would have no ripple effect on the bridge.

 

He explained that it is impossible to commence the dredging activities without consultation by the relevant stakeholders mostly the host communities.

 

According to him, properties and equipment at site was allegedly vandalised by miscreants which has caused setbacks for the ongoing project.

 

Osade noted that “NIWA is the governing body for Nigeria water ways, meanwhile the people that came to you have some of their building close to the water front which is against the government specification for right of water right of way which is at least 50 meters away from water boundary and it should be at high tide.

 

” So they are not even suppose to have their building erected where they are and moreover, any building that is erected close to river should have a design which should be approved by the body that controls building i.e. building regulatory body.

 

“So please let them be informed that they should find out details of what they are doing for them not to fight a battle that would boomerang.

 

Continuing, Osade said:”Instead of going to press to express their grievances, they should have first go to the bodies that gave the permit to carry out the operation, if not the body can decide to effect the actions that would definitely affect the community by telling them to move their building 50meters away from the water when it’s at high tide.”

By Roland Ekama