The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, hosted its inaugural Lagos Waterfront Summit.
The summit gathered government officials, private sector leaders, traditional rulers, and community representatives to address the pressing challenges facing the Lagos Lagoon.
The summit, themed “Pressure on the Lagoon – The Lagos Experience,” focused on strategies for the sustainable management and protection of the state’s waterfront.
READ ALSO: Lagos govt trains over 350 school evaluators to boost education standards
In his keynote address, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu condemned illegal dredging and reckless reclamation activities.
He announced that his administration would prosecute anyone found engaging in unlawful actions that jeopardise the future of Lagos’s waterfronts.
The governor underscored the shared responsibility of the government, private sector, civil society, and waterfront communities in safeguarding the lagoon.
He highlighted that Lagos has lost more than 80% of its shoreline over the years, with pollution and climate change posing significant threats to the ecosystem.
Dayo Alebiosu, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, welcomed participants, noting that the summit was a historic step towards sustainable waterfront management.
He acknowledged the years of degradation from pollution and unregulated activities but also emphasised the vast opportunities the lagoon presents in eco-tourism, aquaculture, renewable energy, and the blue economy.
He called on stakeholders to move from discussion to concrete action.
During the summit, stakeholders including Muiz Banire, Wale Ayilara, and representatives from the Dredgers Associations, resolved to adopt a comprehensive Lagos Lagoon Protection Policy.
They also agreed to establish a Lagos Lagoon Authority, enforce the “Polluter-Pays” principle, enhance community engagement, and create a Lagoon Trust Fund for long-term financing.
A significant outcome of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the state government and three Dutch partners: CDR International BV, Boskalis, and Van Oord.
The collaboration aims to conduct feasibility studies and design interventions for coastal protection and the preservation of Lagos’s shoreline.
READ ALSO: INEC denies manipulating Lagos CVR figures, replies ADC allegation
The summit concluded with a call to action, urging waterfront communities, particularly Makoko, to cooperate with the government’s sustainable waterway management plans.
The government assured these communities that future interventions would respect their cultural realities and livelihoods.
