LAGOS DEFENDS MAKOKO WATERFRONT RECLAMATION, SAYS PROJECT HAS FEDERAL, STATE APPROVALS
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
The Lagos State Government has defended the ongoing reclamation project at the Makoko Waterfront near the Ebute Meta/Lagos Island interchange, insisting that the development was duly approved by both the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government.
The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Alebiosu, made the clarification in a statement issued by the ministry on Wednesday while speaking on Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme monitored in Lagos.
Alebiosu said the reclamation project is being executed by FBT Coral, a developer that complied with all statutory requirements before commencing work.
According to him, the company secured approval from the Federal Government and obtained all the necessary permits from the Lagos State Government before beginning the reclamation exercise.
“The reclamation work you see in Makoko around the Third Mainland Bridge is being handled by FBT Coral. They got approval from the Federal Government and also obtained the necessary clearance from the Lagos State Government,” he said.
The commissioner explained that concerns were later raised by the Federal Ministry of Works over possible dredging activities close to the Third Mainland Bridge.
However, he said investigations established that the developer was not dredging around the bridge but was pumping sand from locations several kilometres away to the reclamation site.
He added that the project underwent an Environmental Impact Assessment and obtained the required drainage clearance before receiving approval.
According to Alebiosu, the Lagos State Government suspended the project for about one year to enable the developer obtain additional clearance from the Federal Ministry of Works.
He said the ministry subsequently constituted a committee to assess the project, after which the developer was cleared to resume work.
“The project was reviewed by all the relevant regulatory agencies. I am an architect, not an environmentalist or an engineer, so I am not in a position to question what the experts have done. Every relevant agency came together, assessed the project and agreed it could proceed. It is therefore not my place to describe it as an illegal development,” he stated.
The commissioner also reiterated the state’s commitment to tackling illegal dredging, revealing that his ministry has not issued any dredging permit since he assumed office.
He said findings from recent bathymetric surveys showed that sand deposits in Lagos waterways were gradually being depleted, forcing operators to source sand from much farther offshore.
“I have not issued one dredging permit in my ministry. The bathymetric survey showed us that where operators used to pump sand from about three kilometres away, they are now going as far as 14 kilometres. That tells us we are gradually running out of sand, and everyone must join hands to tackle illegal dredging,” Alebiosu said.
He acknowledged that illegal dredging remained a major challenge despite ongoing enforcement efforts, stressing that the government would continue to intensify efforts to curb the practice.
“There is no country in the world that is completely free of crime. The objective is to reduce it. Sometimes we are proactive, sometimes reactive, but we will continue to fight these illegal activities,” he added.
Alebiosu further warned residents of Ikorodu and other waterfront communities against supporting illegal dredging, cautioning that continued environmental violations could have severe ecological consequences if left unchecked.
The commissioner noted that Makoko, one of Lagos’ largest informal waterfront settlements located near the Third Mainland Bridge, has witnessed several government clearance and demolition exercises over the years aimed at protecting critical infrastructure, preserving waterways and addressing environmental concerns. He added that recent activities in the area have also generated public debate over the impact of development projects on the waterfront community.
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