Wale Jagun
In its continued efforts to protect the Lagos State waterfronts from environmental degradation and stop threats to lives and properties along the coastal areas of the state, the Lagos State Government, on Tuesday, issued a Stop Work Order to illegal dredgers and owners of illegal containerised cargo terminals along the Ikorodu Waterfront areas of the state.
The illegal operators, which included 13 companies, four containerised cargo terminal points, one dredging machine fabricating company and eight illegal dredging/ sand stockpiling operators at Majidun, Itowolo, Ibeshe, Alogba and Ipakodo, were warned by the Monitoring and Enforcement team of the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, and given 48 hours to respond to the notice.
The Commissioner said that the Ministry will not hesitate to close down the companies if they do not adhere to the rules and regulations governing Waterfront Infrastructure Development in the state, which include coordination of dredging and reclamation activities.
He sounded a note of warning to all companies and individuals in the business of sand dredging/stockpiling/reclamation and shoreline extension and development on Lagos Waterways without valid approval or permit of the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, to do so immediately or face the wrath of the State Government.
The Commissioner, speaking through the leader of the enforcement team, Mr. James Iranola, said that the Ministry will not relent in its efforts to sanitise the waterfront corridors of all illegalities and unorthodox practices.
Recall that the Ministry recently served contravention notices on over 200 property owners in Okun Ajah and Okun Mopo waterfront schemes in Eti-Osa LGA, over encroachment on government properties.
