22nd November, 2010
The Lagos State Government of Nigeria has vowed to prosecute illegal dredgers caught in the act, adding that the state would not take lightly the activities of people that could cause major environmental havoc in the state.
Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Prince Adesegun Oniru said the continued dredging on the state’s shorelines was capable of causing major environmental challenges for the state.
Oniru directed all individuals and corporate bodies to obtain the permit for any form of reclamation from his ministry before they could be allowed to carry out any form of dredging in the state.
“Let me warn that anyone who fails to obtain the necessary permit will be prosecuted under the enabling law provided by the state on dredging, sand filling and land reclamation for the regulation of waterfront infrastructure development in Lagos State as enacted and signed into law by the State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola,†he said.
According to him, the warning had become necessary as a result of incessant illegal land reclamation from the water bodies in order to gain more space or reclaimation of swamps which were affecting the water bodies negatively.
“If these illegal activities are not properly monitored and regulated, it will lead to a major environmental problem which may have a multiplier effect on areas which were hitherto not prone to flooding.
“It could also have an adverse effect on the tourism potential which the water bodies such as ocean, lagoon and streams provide in the state,†he added.