Silent destroyer on Lagos waters: Alebiosu declares war on illegal dredging

The Lagos State Government has issued a stark warning on the spiralling environmental and social crisis caused by illegal dredging, branding it a ticking time bomb that could wipe out coastal livelihoods and worsen flooding disasters across the State.

Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, speaking ahead of the inaugural Waterfront Summit scheduled for 12th September 2025, described illegal dredging as a “silent destroyer” eating away at the foundations of Lagos’ riverine communities.

He warned that residents who enabled or engaged in the practice are “engineering their own downfall,” as its long-term damage will be catastrophic.

“Illegal dredging accelerates erosion, devastates aquatic life, and destroys fishing and water-based commerce—especially in fragile communities like Makoko,” Alebiosu said.

“The danger is clear: we are not just harming the environment; we are jeopardising our future.”

He revealed that the summit would place the menace of illegal dredging at the heart of global deliberations, bringing together stakeholders from across Nigeria’s riverine states, government agencies, environmental experts, community leaders, and private sector players to forge a lasting solution.

“This is no longer a local conversation, it is an urgent matter of survival,” Alebiosu stressed, adding that the summit will chart actionable policies to safeguard waterfronts for generations to come.

The Commissioner urged the public to register through official MWID social media links, noting that only collective action can end the scourge.