Wale Jagun
The Lagos State Government on Friday, July 02, 2021, sealed an illegal container terminal operating in Ibeshe axis of Ikorodu Division, Lagos, Southwest, Nigeria.
Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako speaking during the special operation in Ibeshe said that the government had to move swiftly to prevent further nuisance in the built environment of Ibeshe by sealing the unapproved terminal, located beside the Government jetty in the area.
He cautioned that Government would not tolerate in other parts of the State a replay of Ijegun-Egba and Satelite town, notorious for the unpleasant experience with tank firms and terminals, while decrying the destructive impact of the activities of the container terminal on the environment and the newly constructed Ebute- Ibeshe road.
“It is highly unacceptable that by indiscriminately parking containerized vehicles on the road and stacking containers in unbridled manner, an unapproved business activity would have so much impact on the environment so as to rapidly despoil the road constructed with tax payers money and constitute danger to children in the neighborhood,” Salako said.
He explained that Government had a well established procedure for licensing terminals and mining activities on the shoreline, in such a way that all factors that make for livable and sustainable built environment would have been taken cognisance of.
He urged anyone interested in the establishment of container terminals and sand mining to seek the approval of the appropriate authorities including the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development and Ministry of Energy and Miniral Resources among others.
The Commissioner enjoined community leaders and members to maintain the surveillance of their communities and report any untoward Physical development to appropriate authorities for prompt action.