… Sets Agenda for Lagoon Protection
The Lagos State Government, through the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, on Thursday, hosted the first-ever Lagos Waterfront Summit and Stakeholders’ Engagement at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island. The Summit, themed: “Pressure on the Lagoon – The Lagos Experience”, brought together government leaders, policymakers, private sector players, traditional rulers, and waterfront communities to address the urgent challenges facing the Lagos Lagoon.
Delivering the keynote address, the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, openly condemned illegal dredging and reckless reclamation, vowing to prosecute anyone found jeopardising the future of Lagos through unlawful activities on the Lagoon.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to shoreline protection, stricter enforcement, and inclusive community participation, stressing that safeguarding the Lagoon is a shared responsibility of government, the private sector, civil society, and waterfront communities.
“Over the years, Lagos has lost more than 80% of its shoreline, while pollution and the impacts of climate change continue to threaten the Lagoon’s ecosystem. We all have to work together to protect our lagoon. Safeguarding the lagoon is a shared responsibility of government, private sector, civil society, and waterfront communities”.
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Honourable Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Dayo Bush Alebiosu, warmly welcomed participants and emphasised that the Summit marks a historic step in Lagos State’s commitment to sustainable waterfront management.
He noted that while the Lagoon has suffered years of degradation from pollution, illegal dredging, and unregulated reclamation, it still holds vast opportunities in eco-tourism, aquaculture, renewable energy, and the blue economy that must be responsibly harnessed for future generations. He appealed to stakeholders to go beyond discussions to actions to protect the lagoon.
During the course of the programme, stakeholders present like Muiz Banire, SAN, Wale Ayilara and representatives from the Dredgers Associations resolved to adopt a comprehensive Lagos Lagoon Protection Policy, establish a Lagos Lagoon Authority, enforce Polluter-Pays Principles, strengthen community engagement, and create a Lagoon Trust Fund to secure long-term financing.
A major highlight of the Summit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Lagos State Government and Dutch partners – CDR International BV, Boskalis, and Van Oord, to conduct feasibility studies and design interventions for coastal protection and safeguard Lagos’ shoreline.
The Summit concluded with a strong call to action, urging waterfront communities, particularly Makoko, to cooperate with the government’s sustainable waterway management plans, while assuring that future interventions will respect cultural realities and livelihoods.
