Ocean surge: PDP wants Eko Atlantic City stopped

Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party has blamed the frequent oceanic surge in Lagos State on sand filling of the ocean and lagoons.

The party spoke on the heels of an early morning ocean surge on Saturday, which sacked communities around Kuramo Beach in Lagos, leaving close to 10 persons dead.

In a statement signed by its Lagos State chairman, Chief Tunji Shelle, the PDP called on the Federal Government to stop people from sand-filling the ocean and lagoons in the state.

The PDP faulted the“ unprofessional’’ manner the ocean and lagoons were encroached on without due Ecological and Environmental Impact Assessment.

“This is in the overall interest of the country and to particularly forestall further loss of lives and property arising from mismanaging the environment,’’ the party said.

According to the party, direct government negligence caused the calamities.

The party faulted the sand-filling of land for the purported Eko Atlantic project, adding that business interest had undermined the safety of lives and property.

“We are very pained by the wanton loss of lives and property prevalent only along the coastal lines of Lagos beaches.

“We sincerely sympathise with the affected families,” the party said.

The party called for a stop to the Eko Atlantic Project and immediate compensation to the bereaved families who also lost property as a result of the surge.

The promoters of the Eko Atlantic City project have consistently said that a proper environmental assessment impact survey was made before the project was approved by the Federal Government.