LASG Attributes Flooding To Illegal Dredging
The Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Dayo Bush Alebiosu, has reaffirmed the State Government’s unwavering commitment to combating illegal dredging and unregulated land reclamation, describing both activities as major contributors to flooding and environmental degradation across Lagos.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television, the Honourable Commissioner said the State Government remains resolute in enforcing strict regulatory measures to protect Lagos’ fragile waterfront ecosystem while ensuring that all reclamation and dredging activities comply fully with laid-down environmental and physical planning requirements.
He stressed that illegal dredging continues to undermine environmental sustainability, worsen flooding and threaten coastal communities, insisting that the Ministry will not compromise regulatory standards.
Addressing the persistent flooding experienced in parts of the state, Alebiosu identified indiscriminate refuse disposal as one of the major causes, noting that blocked drainage channels and poorly planned reclamation projects have worsened the situation.
According to him, addressing these challenges requires strong inter-agency collaboration involving the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Physical Planning, and the Office of the Surveyor-General to ensure coordinated planning, regulation and enforcement.
The Commissioner explained that before any dredging activity can receive government approval, operators must obtain an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), drainage clearance from the Ministry of the Environment, and an approved layout plan from the Ministry of Physical Planning before the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development grants its approval.
Alebiosu disclosed that since assuming office, his administration has not issued a single dredging permit, maintaining that granting approvals without strict compliance would amount to encouraging practices capable of aggravating flooding across the state.
“We have deliberately withheld permits until every regulatory requirement is fully satisfied because safeguarding lives, property and the environment must always take precedence over commercial interests,” he said.
The Honourable Commissioner further appealed to residents, particularly those living within waterfront communities, to partner with the government by reporting cases of illegal dredging and unlawful reclamation activities, noting that community participation remains critical to protecting Lagos’ extensive coastline.
While acknowledging that enforcement remains a continuous exercise requiring both preventive planning and decisive action against violators, Alebiosu maintained that the government would continue to strengthen monitoring and enforcement across the state’s waterfront corridors.
Reacting to recent allegations of illegal dredging around the Third Mainland Bridge corridor, the Commissioner dismissed the claims, explaining that the company involved obtained all necessary approvals from both the Federal and Lagos State Governments before commencing operations.
He further clarified that the sand being used for reclamation at the location was transported from approved dredging sites several kilometres away and was not dredged within the vicinity of the Third Mainland Bridge as alleged.
Alebiosu reiterated the Lagos State Government’s commitment to sustainable waterfront development, assuring residents that every legitimate dredging or reclamation project will continue to undergo rigorous regulatory scrutiny to protect the environment, reduce flood risks and preserve the state’s coastal assets for future generations.