The Lagos State government has announced plans to further scale up the deployment of groynes technology, a proven coastal defence system, as part of proactive measures to address the growing threat of coastal erosion.

The Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ekundayo Alebiosu, made this known during the ministerial press briefing at the Baguda Kalto Press Centre, Alausa, on Monday.

The commissioner said he had embarked on a strategic working visit to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, where he led a high-level delegation to explore international best practices and forge partnerships for sustainable coastal management.

According to Mr Alebiosu, a groyne is a rigid hydraulic structure built from an ocean shore or riverbank that interrupts water flow and limits the movement of sediment.

“Though Lagos State has already begun implementing this technology, the sheer scale of the challenge to extend its usage along the 180km shoreline presents a significant financial burden.

“It costs a huge amount to construct a single groyne, and with a targeted 180km coastal stretch, the projected cost exceeds ₦3 trillion, a figure that makes it clear that strategic collaboration is required.

“The technology has been effectively used to arrest coastal erosion and stabilise beaches in several parts of the world, including the Netherlands,” Mr Alebiosu said.

The commissioner described the Netherlands, renowned for pioneering coastal engineering solutions, as a perfect case study for the state government’s delegation.

“This is not just a Lagos problem; it is a national environmental and economic challenge.

“If we are serious about preserving our shoreline, preventing further erosion, and protecting coastal communities, then a robust partnership with the federal government and the private sector is not just desirable, it is absolutely necessary,” he said.

Mr Alebiosu emphasised that the Lagos State government is actively pursuing a public-private partnership (PPP) framework to finance and implement large-scale groyne deployment and coastal protection infrastructure.

“We cannot afford to delay. Entire communities are at risk, and if left unchecked, the consequences of coastal erosion could be devastating not only to the environment but also to livelihoods and investments across our coastal zones,” he said.

Mr Alebiosu reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to working with international partners, federal agencies, and private investors to deliver long-term, climate-resilient solutions that will preserve the waterfronts for Lagosians.

The commissioner also revealed that a dispute that threatened the homes and livelihoods of hundreds of residents within state government schemes was brought to a peaceful and lawful resolution.

(NAN)