- Lagos Targets Coastal Damage with Push Against Illegal Dredging
- Alebiosu cautioned residents who support or engage in illegal dredging
- Described illegal dredging as a “silent destroyer”
The Lagos State government, through the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development (MWID), has restated its resolve to combat the rising threat of illegal dredging and its damaging effects on communities across the state, Eko Hot Blog reports.
Speaking to ministry staff ahead of the 1st Waterfront Summit, scheduled for September 12, 2025, the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush Alebiosu, urged active community participation in addressing the crisis.
EDITOR’S PICK
- Tottenham Blow Lead, Fall to PSG in Super Cup on Penalties
- FG Bans Creation of New Federal Universities, Others For Seven Years
- JAMB to Screen Exceptional Underage Candidates for 2025/2026 Admission
He cautioned that residents who support or engage in illegal dredging are “engineering their own downfall,” as the environmental, social, and economic consequences will ultimately harm their lives and the wider public.
Describing illegal dredging as a “silent destroyer” of coastal and riverine communities, Alebiosu noted that it accelerates erosion, worsens flooding, disrupts aquatic ecosystems, and destroys livelihoods tied to fishing and water-based trade, particularly in places like Makoko. He explained that this ongoing problem is one of the key issues for discussion at the forthcoming summit.
“We cannot overemphasise the devastating impact these activities could have on our daily lives and on posterity. This is why we have made it a point of necessity to bring it to the global stage, where all stakeholders from riverine states in Nigeria, government agencies to community leaders, environmental experts, and private sector partners will deliberate and chart a lasting solution,” Alebiosu said.
He added that the summit will serve as a collaborative platform to encourage dialogue, exchange best practices, and create actionable policies to protect Lagos’ waterfronts for current and future generations.
The commissioner encouraged the public to register and participate in the summit through the ministry’s official social media links, emphasising that collective action is crucial to eradicating the menace of illegal dredging.
