Lagos State is taking strategic measures to address flooding, sand dredging and other challenges affecting its waterfronts.

The state Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Dayo Bush-Alebiosu, gave the assurance on Thursday during an interactive session in Lagos.

Mr Bush-Alebiosu said the government’s approach was not merely to react to flooding.

He said the focus should be on how quickly floodwater would recede after rainfall rather than the mere occurrence of flooding.

“Flooding happens everywhere, but what you should look at is how quickly the water drains. Some of these interventions should be addressed before the problems explode.

“The issue is about understanding the factors responsible and putting the right interventions in place,” he said.

The commissioner said the state had encountered several institutional challenges in coordinating waterfront development, noting that improved collaboration among relevant agencies was helping to resolve them.

He said the state was also concerned about activities associated with sand dredging and reclamation, particularly their potential impact on the environment and infrastructure.

Mr Bush-Alebiosu said there was a need for accurate data on the quantity of sand available in Lagos waters, where it was being dredged, and how the resource could be sustainably managed.

“What Lagos State has are land and water. How do we utilise them if we cannot identify areas that should be left to replenish themselves?

“We cannot properly manage our waterfronts without necessary information,” he said.

He said the ministry was working to capture relevant information and conduct studies that would guide government decisions on dredging, reclamation and waterfront development.

The commissioner expressed concern over the environmental and infrastructural consequences of indiscriminate dredging and poor handling of excavated materials.

He said some areas, including the vicinity of the Lagos airport, had experienced significant degradation, with large craters created by excavation activities.

According to him, the government must ensure that excavated materials are properly managed and operators adhere to approved standards.

Mr Bush-Alebiosu said the recent Supreme Court judgement clarifying certain responsibilities of states had created a better environment for Lagos to pursue proposed institutions and policies for the management of its lagoon and waterways.

He said ideas such as the proposed Lagoon Authority and Lagoon Policy, which had earlier appeared futuristic, could be pursued more effectively because of the clearer legal position.

On waterfront reclamation projects, the commissioner said the government had encouraged developers with approved reclamation plans to proceed, while insisting that proper environmental and safety assessments must be conducted.

He said the ministry had also worked with relevant authorities to ensure that projects would be safe.

Mr Bush-Alebiosu said the government was equally investing in jetties and waterfront infrastructure to improve water transport, decongest roads and reduce transport costs.

He cited a proposed jetty project as one of the interventions expected to serve a wide range of communities and improve connectivity through waterways.

“When you take out transport cost, it eventually brings down the cost of goods and aids affordability.

“Water transportation is not just about moving people; it can also help us move goods around easily and reduce the pressure on our roads,” he said.

The commissioner said the ministry had undertaken renovation of some jetties inherited from previous administrations.

He added that the government was committed to ensuring that waterfront infrastructure would be properly located, accessible and fit for purpose.

He noted that the administration’s waterfront projects were designed to improve mobility, stimulate economic activities and make better use of the state’s aquatic resources.

He said that the ministry would continue to collaborate with stakeholders and relevant government agencies to improve the management and development of Lagos’s waterfronts.

(NAN)