Duly Approved By FG, Lagos Govt – Alebiosu On Makoko Waterfront Reclamation

The Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Hon. Dayo Bush Alebiosu, has clarified that the ongoing reclamation project at the Makoko Waterfront around the Ebute Meta/Lagos Island interchange was duly approved by both the Federal Government and the Lagos State Government.

Speaking on Morning Brief, a Channels Television programme monitored in Lagos, Alebiosu explained that the reclamation is being undertaken by FBT Coral, a developer that fulfilled all statutory requirements before commencing work.

According to him, the company secured approvals from the Federal Government and obtained all the necessary clearances from the Lagos State Government before work began on the project.

He explained that concerns were later raised by the Federal Ministry of Works over possible dredging activities near the Third Mainland Bridge. However, investigations revealed that the developer was not dredging close to the bridge but was instead pumping sand from locations several kilometres away to the reclamation site.

“The reclamation work you see in Makoko around the Third Mainland Bridge is being handled by FBT Coral. They got approval from the Federal Government and also obtained the necessary clearance from the Lagos State Government,” Alebiosu said.

He disclosed that the project also successfully passed its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and obtained the required drainage clearance.

The commissioner further revealed that the state government suspended the project for about one year to enable the developer obtain an additional clearance from the Federal Ministry of Works. According to him, a committee was subsequently constituted by the ministry, and after its assessment, the developer was cleared to continue with the project.

Alebiosu maintained that every relevant regulatory agency had reviewed the development before approving it.

“I am an architect, not an environmentalist or an engineer, so I am not in a position to question what the experts have done. Every relevant agency came together, assessed the project and agreed it could proceed. It is therefore not my place to describe it as an illegal development,” he stated.

On the issue of illegal dredging, the commissioner reiterated the Lagos State Government’s hardline stance against unauthorised activities on the waterways.

He disclosed that since assuming office, his ministry has not issued a single dredging permit, stressing that findings from recent bathymetric surveys indicate that sand deposits are gradually being depleted.

According to him, while dredgers previously sourced sand from about three kilometres offshore, many operators are now extracting sand from as far as 14 kilometres away, an indication that available sand resources are diminishing.

“I have not issued one dredging permit in my ministry. The bathymetric survey showed us that where operators used to pump sand from about three kilometres away, they are now going as far as 14 kilometres. That tells us we are gradually running out of sand, and everyone must join hands to tackle illegal dredging,” he said.

Alebiosu acknowledged the sophistication of illegal dredging operations, noting that enforcement agencies continue to battle offenders despite the challenges.

“There is no country in the world that is completely free of crime. The objective is to reduce it. Sometimes we are proactive, sometimes reactive, but we will continue to fight these illegal activities,” he said.

The commissioner also warned residents of Ikorodu against encouraging illegal dredging activities, cautioning that continued environmental violations could trigger serious ecological disasters if left unchecked.