LAGOS GOVT, DREDGERS RESOLVE DISAGREEMENT
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The Lagos State Government and the Dredgers Association of Nigeria, which represents the Dredgers, have settled their differences by deciding to work together to establish a partnership that will clean up the State’s dredging industry.
Following a stakeholders’ meeting on Friday to address any unresolved issues in his office, Hon. Ekundayo Alebiosu, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, announced this. It was one of numerous gatherings arranged to settle the dispute.
The Commissioner claims that the State objects to the dredgers’ unregulated operations, especially near the waterways, a position that was recently made worse by the Supreme Court’s January 2024 decision to transfer authority of the waterways to the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA).
His remarks: “Although the Ministry got some approvals for enforcement, we deemed it fit to offer another opportunity to foster understanding and build a robust relationship with the dredgers as partners in progress and remove the bad eggs in the sector” .
Alebiosu also emphasized that it would only be just to remind the dredgers of the government’s stance on the necessity of sanitizing all dredging sites and making sure operations are conducted in a way that is environmentally sustainable and does not endanger coastal communities’ means of subsistence.
“We have a statutory function to protect the waterfront assets. We cannot sit and wait while things get out of hand as trends are currently showing. We have to be proactive and strategic. You know the illegal operators are also threats to your businesses, so you need to be better organised to bring them to book.
“Our officers are also facing lots of challenges in the course of carrying out our statutory responsibility, and that is why we invited you out of respect for your association. We are going all out against illegal operators who are not registered with the government. It will no longer be business as usual for those who are not complying with the extant Laws”, he added.
In his words, “It will be good for all of us to be on the same page, and we are open to suggestions, support, advice, and whatever it will take to move the sector forward.” The Ministry will carry out its duties and have frequent meetings with stakeholders to gather information and seek input.
The Commissioner stated that everyone must be included in the dragnet, even those who operate illegally and must regularize their dealings with the authorities.
In response, Association President Bature Akpomejero stated that his organization is in favor of the Ministry’s statutory responsibilities because it prefers to carry out proper procedures to ensure that its members do not break any laws.
“We are assuring the Commissioner that our association is willing to work with the government. I urged the Ministry to render valuable services to our association, which will eventually translate to more value to the general members. We promise you a good working relationship”, he said.
The Secretary General of the Association, Richard Ntan, also expressed support for a clampdown on illegal practitioners and called on the Ministry not to entertain name-droppers. “Let me praise the efforts of the Commissioner at resolving the disagreement once and for all, for the first time”.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Lolade Aina, thanked the dredgers for attending the meeting and assured them that the government will support them in overcoming their obstacles.
“Government needs the dredgers and you also need the government. I want to say that this will be the beginning of the great working relationship between us”, she said.
The Ministry’s Head of the Dredging/Monitoring Unit, Mr. James Iranola, expressed gratitude to the Government and the Nigerian Dredgers Association for their cooperative efforts.
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