By Erewunmi Peace

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has declared a total war against illegal dredging, unregulated land reclamation, and other harmful activities threatening Lagos’s waterways and coastal communities.

The governor made the vow at the Lagos State Waterfront Summit held in Lagos, themed “Pressure on the Lagoon: The Lagos Experience.”

Sanwo-Olu said the state could no longer watch as illegal sand mining, reckless reclamation, and dredging destroy the environment, displace communities, and worsen flooding. He noted that Lagos has already lost over 80 percent of its shoreline in the last 50 years due to uncontrolled human activities.

“Those profiting from the destruction of our environment are engineering their own downfall and jeopardizing the future of generations to come. Enough is enough,” Sanwo-Olu declared.

The governor also promised to strengthen the Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development, tighten regulations, and partner with private investors, communities, researchers, and international bodies to protect the Lagos lagoon.

Sanwo-Olu highlighted the severe impact of these illegal practices on coastal towns such as Ibeshe, Ilashe, Inagbe, and Idotun, where erosion and flooding have forced many residents to abandon their homes.

He assured Lagosians that his administration is committed to safeguarding the state’s waterfronts and promoting sustainable development along its coastlines.