Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday, issued a stern warning to individuals and entities engaged in illegal dredging, unregulated sand mining, and reckless land reclamation across the state’s waterfronts, declaring that henceforth, such environmental infractions would no longer be tolerated as illegal operators would be made to face the full weight of the law.
Governor Sanwo-Olu sent this forceful message to those he described as engineering their own downfall through actions that threatened the ecological and economic future of the state, while speaking at the 1st Lagos State Waterfront Summit, themed: “Pressure on the Lagoon: The Lagos experience,” which took place at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
“Let me be perfectly clear: those who profit from illegal dredging, reckless land reclamation, and environmental destruction are jeopardizing the future for generations to come, and Lagos will no longer tolerate it,” the governor warned.
Speaking at the event, attended by key stakeholders from government, academia, the private sector, and waterfront communities, Governor Sanwo-Olu decried the rapid degradation of the state’s coastal and marine assets, citing illegal activities and the effects of climate change as major contributors to erosion, flooding, and the displacement of communities.
This was just as he referenced his recent visits to vulnerable communities like Ibeshe, Ilashe, and Inagbe, where residents were already experiencing the dire consequences of waterfront mismanagement.
The governor, in particular, painted a grim picture of Idotun Village, once a thriving community, but now nearly consumed by the Atlantic Ocean, as a cautionary tale of what inaction could lead to.
Sanwo-Olu sadly noted that over 80 percent of Lagos’ shoreline had been lost in the past 50 years, adding: “This is the human face of coastal erosion and a wake-up call that we must act urgently and decisively.”
The governor, however, revealed ongoing efforts being made to strengthen the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, empower local communities, and enforce stricter regulations on waterfront activities, as a way of addressing the crisis.
The Guest Speaker for the event, who is former Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire (SAN), issued a passionate call for collective action to protect the Lagos Lagoon, describing its preservation as a shared responsibility that transcended government alone.
Speaking on the urgent need for sustainable environmental practices, Banire emphasised that safeguarding the lagoon required the involvement of all sectors of society, from lawmakers and regulators to private industries and everyday citizens.
“This is not the fight of government alone. This is the fight of us all. Regulators must craft visionary laws, but not without properly federalizing the country. Legislators must enact laws that endure beyond politics, while regulators must enforce them without fear, favour, or compromise,” he said.
The guest speaker also called on industries to adopt sustainable practices, urging the private sector to prioritize investments that secure long-term environmental well-being over short-term profits.
Banire also took a swipe at the Federal Government for allegedly twisting a Supreme Court judgment on an issue relating to the ownership of waterfront property.
He maintained that the Apex court’s verdict in the suit between Lagos State and the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) didn’t assert the Federal Government’s authority on the ownership of waterfront property.
“In that case, nowhere was the issue of ownership of land, whether on the waterfront or Island, a subject of consideration or pronouncement by the court.
“The said decision of the Supreme Court, now misrepresented as conferring ownership of waterfront property on the Federal Government was commenced vide an Interpleader Summons by the duo of Incorporated Trustees of Association of Tourist Boat Operators and Water Transporters of Nigeria and the Incorporated Trustees of Dredgers Association of Nigeria,” he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, described the lagoon as more than just water, emphasising its role as a source of life, culture, economy, and identity for millions of Lagosians.
“We have all witnessed how some coastal communities like Idotun village have been swept away. If nothing is done, more communities, livelihoods, and opportunities will be lost,” he warned.
Bush-Alebiosu highlighted a range of threats facing the lagoon, including pollution, unchecked urbanization, illegal dredging, and climate change, sadly noting that “of particular concern is the depletion of fish stocks, which is undermining local food security and affecting the livelihoods of artisanal fishermen.”
“If we continue down this path, we risk losing not only a vital ecosystem but also an irreplaceable economic asset,” he further warned.