Lagos island residents implore Sanwo-Olu to halt activities of illegal dredgers

Residents of some Lagos island communities have called on Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of the state, to rescue them from the illegal activities of dredgers who sand fill the lagoon for pecuniary reasons. 

Speaking with journalists on Thursday, the residents, under the auspices of the Coalition of Concerned Citizens of Lekki, Ikoyi and Victoria Island, appealed to the state government to rescue them from being submerged by the lagoon due to the incessant and illicit actions of land speculators.

Olusegun Ladega, an architect and representative of the group, said the distortion of the Lekki drainage regional master plan was “caused by the indiscriminate sand-filling of natural waterways”.

He said the sand-filling of Lagos lagoons and oceans is causing coastal erosion, forcing water back to land and threatening houses in the vicinity. 

“The dredging activities along the lagoon shoreline are usually carried out at night, thus leading to the encroachment of the waterfronts of some Ikoyi residents and the gradual submerging of their neighbourhoods beneath the sea,” he said.

“Realtors and developers are forming landmass by illegally sand-filling the Lagos lagoon and selling the land to unsuspecting affluent and sometimes influential figures.”

Last year, Sanwo-Olu ordered the demolition of some illegal shops and market stalls located in some flooded areas of Lagos Island.

The affected places included Jankara, Ojo Giwa, Oroyiyin, Idumagbo and Pelewura market.

Sanwo-Olu identified abuse of drainage channels, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and outright disregard for the environment, as some of the reasons for the flood.